Keep the strips short and evenly thick; long twists can untwist as the butter melts.
Twisted shortbread strips bake crisp and are rolled in cinnamon sugar while warm, borrowing churro flavor without a fried dough texture.
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Cinnamon Sugar Shortbread Churro Twists Recipe
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Total time includes hands-on preparation, required chilling or resting, whole-batch cooking, cooling and finishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- mixer
- rolling pin
- pastry wheel
- baking sheets
- parchment
- shallow bowl
Ingredients
US measures are approximate. Gram weights help keep portions consistent; spice weights vary with density.
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Prepare the ingredients: Cream butter and sugar; mix in flour, cinnamon and salt until the dough gathers.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Roll to 1/4 inch thick and cut 48 strips, each about 1/2 by 4 inches.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Twist each strip once and press the ends gently onto parchment.
Chill the dough
- Chill the dough: Chill 20 minutes.
Bake and set
- Bake and set: Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 14–17 minutes until dry at the edges.
Cool and finish
- Cool and finish: Toss carefully in the coating sugar while just warm; cool flat.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Twist only once so the strip does not crack at its center.
Technique & texture
Mix coating sugar before baking and use a shallow bowl for an even, quick roll.
Finishing & serving
Handle the warm twists with a small spatula; they are fragile before cooling.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | up to 5 days | Airtight at room temperature up to 5 days. |
| Refrigeration | As described | Keep away from moisture. the sugar coating softens in the refrigerator. |
| Raw freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze shaped twists on a tray and bag up to 1 month. bake from frozen with 2 extra minutes. |
| Baked freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze baked, uncoated twists up to 1 month. coat after warming briefly. |
| Restoring | As described | Thaw uncovered and refresh the coating with a small pinch of cinnamon sugar. |
Notes
- Scale ingredients, including US measures, without changing cookie size or oven temperature. Extra trays increase whole-batch time.
Nutrition
Approximate values per portion from the listed ingredient weights divided into 48 equal portions. Includes required fillings and finishes. Brands, unused coatings and actual portion size affect the estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these fried like churros?
No; they are oven-baked shortbread with cinnamon-sugar flavor and a crisp, sandy bite.
Why did the twists unravel?
Pinch both ends lightly onto the parchment and chill the shaped strips before baking.
When should I add the coating?
Roll the cookies while just warm so the sugar adheres without melting into syrup.
