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Churro Cake Recipe

A light and fluffy churro-inspired cake with cinnamon-vanilla buttercream and spicy chocolate ganache
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Churro Cake

  • 2 3/4 Cups (290g) cake flour, sifted before measuring
  • 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 3/4 Cups (358g) granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 Cups (300ml) whole milk, room temperature

Mexican Chocolate Ganache

  • 1 Cup (185g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 Cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream

  • 2 Cups (452g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 7 Cups (840g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp whole milk, room temperature
  • pinch of salt

Garnish

  • 3 small churros

Instructions

Make The Churro Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray and placing a wax paper circle in the bottom of each pan.  
  • Whisk together sifted cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Cream butter on med-high for one minute. Add sugar and beat on med-high for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl and paddle as needed. 
  • Turn the mixer down to low and add the eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix for one minute on high, scraping down the bowl and paddle once more.
  • Add all of the dry ingredients at once with the mixer on low speed until just combined, then add the milk all at once with the mixer still on low. Scrape down the bowl and paddle and mix on low until it all just comes together, about 30 seconds. You might need to hand whisk at the end to get rid of some lumps, but be careful not to overmix. 
  • Fill prepared cake pans no more than ⅔ full and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

Make The Mexican Chocolate Ganache

  • Place chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl and set aside.
  • Whisk together heavy whipping cream, cinnamon, and cayenne in a saucepan over medium-high heat until small bubbles start to form (aka right before it starts boiling).
  • Pour over chocolate chips and let sit for 30 seconds before whisking together until the ganache is uniform in consistency. You’ll need to let this cool on the counter to room temp before filling or dripping the cake. 

Make The Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream

  • In a large bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Cream butter on med-high until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes), scraping down bowl and paddle a few times in between.
  • Add powdered sugar/cinnamon mixture a few cups at a time, scraping down bowl and paddle between intervals. Mix on medium until fully incorporated. 
  • Turn mixer to low and add vanilla and milk. Mix on medium for two minutes. Scrape down bowl and paddle and add salt. Mix for another minute on medium until incorporated.

Assembly

  • Torte each cake layer to desired height. Pipe a circle of buttercream around the top edge of the first layer (to make a buttercream dam) and fill with half Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream, half (room temperature) Mexican Chocolate Ganache. 
  • Place the next cake layer on top and repeat step one, then add the final cake layer on top.
  • Crumb coat the cake with Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream, then ice with a final layer of buttercream.
  • Place the cake in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to chill the buttercream before dripping with room temperature Mexican Chocolate Ganache.
  • Top with your favorite local churros or topper of your choice. In this design I’ve also piped a few open stars with buttercream using Wilton tip 4B.

Notes

The cake layers can be made ahead, wrapped and stored at room temperature for up to two days. Alternatively, you can wrap and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
The ganache can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To bring back to dripping consistency, heat in the microwave for 15 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until room temperature. 
The buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Bring back to room temperature and re-whip in your stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Add milk, one tsp at a time, if buttercream is too thick.