When you have a party coming up and haven’t had the time to do any baking, store-bought cupcakes are a total lifesaver. You can just grab a dozen and set them on the buffet table — mission accomplished. And, if you have a few minutes spare after that, you can dress up those store-bought cupcakes so they look more professional in so many ways, elevating them from standard sweets to something downright extraordinary. Vanilla cupcakes are a great foundation for all sorts of themed desserts, including churro-inspired treats for your next get-together.
Cinnamon and sugar are the pillars of churros, and that’s all you really need to turn a basic vanilla cupcake into a Mexican-inspired dessert. The project is also easy enough that you can tackle it on the day of whatever gathering you’re attending or throwing, and they’ll fit right in with tons of different themes and events too.
Churro cupcakes are delicious enough to be a hit at kids’ birthday parties but you can easily elevate them even further with just a few extras to make beautiful treats for wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, and even black-tie events. And while you could make these beautiful cupcakes from scratch, using the store-bought variety will cut down on baking time and give you a good foundation for decorating.
How to transform vanilla cupcakes into dreamy churro-inspired desserts
The easiest way to elevate store-bought vanilla cupcakes into delectable churro-inspired sensations is simply to dip the frosted part in cinnamon and sugar. The gentle flavors of vanilla will mingle with the cinnamon and sugar and give you that feeling of biting into a fresh churro — and it couldn’t be an easier process. But, that’s just the beginning if you want to take your churro cupcakes to the next level.
For an extra homemade touch, buy unfrosted vanilla cupcakes and make your own buttercream, or buy store-bought frosting to frost the cupcakes yourself (spike it with tequila if it’s a grown-up party!). The cinnamon and sugar will stick to it more naturally, elevating the whole dessert. Then, top the cupcakes with a couple of small churro pieces, or some Cinnamon Toast Crunch Churros cereal, for garnish.
You could even toss them in edible cupcake wrappers for a fun twist. Add further details like edible pearls, glitter, or a caramel drizzle for an extra touch that turns these churro cupcakes from a childhood treat into a wedding dessert in a flash.
