Nutella Churro Donut Holes are soft, golden mini donuts baked in the oven instead of fried. They have all the cozy flavor of classic churros, with a buttery cinnamon sugar coating and a creamy Nutella center tucked inside every bite.
This easy churro donut recipe is perfect when you want a fun homemade treat without the oil, splatter, or fuss of deep frying. The donut holes bake quickly in a mini muffin pan, then get brushed with melted butter, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and filled with warm Nutella. They are sweet, tender, and just indulgent enough to feel special.
What Makes This Dish So Good
These Churro Donut Holes bring together everything people love about churros: warm cinnamon, sweet sugar, a buttery finish, and a soft center that melts in your mouth. The best part is that they are baked, not fried, which makes the process much easier and cleaner for home kitchens.
Instead of shaping and frying dough, the batter is spooned into a mini muffin tray and baked until puffed and lightly golden. Once warm, each donut hole is brushed with melted butter and tossed in cinnamon sugar, creating that familiar churro-style coating. The Nutella filling adds a rich chocolate-hazelnut surprise that makes these little bites feel extra special.
They are ideal for brunch, dessert, parties, or a weekend baking project. Because they are small, they are easy to serve and even easier to share. The flavor is rich and comforting, but the recipe itself stays simple and approachable.
What Goes Into Churro Donut Holes
You only need a handful of everyday baking ingredients to make these cinnamon sugar donut holes with Nutella filling.
- Flour: Plain or all-purpose flour gives the donut holes their soft, tender structure.
- Sugar: A little sugar sweetens the batter, while extra granulated sugar is mixed with cinnamon for the churro coating.
- Baking powder and baking soda: These help the donut holes rise and create a light texture.
- Egg, milk, oil, and vanilla: These wet ingredients bring the batter together and keep the donut holes moist and flavorful.
- Nutella: Melted Nutella is used as the creamy filling inside each baked donut hole.
- Butter: Melted butter helps the cinnamon sugar stick and adds a rich, bakery-style finish.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives the coating its warm churro flavor.
Note: Please see the recipe card below for the full ingredient list with measurements.
How To Make Nutella Churro Donut Holes
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 24-count mini muffin tray with cooking oil spray, then wipe away any excess with a paper towel.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until evenly combined.
- Add the Wet Ingredients: Make a well in the center of the dry mixture. Add the oil, egg, vanilla, and milk, then whisk until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
- Fill the Muffin Tray: Spoon about 2 teaspoons of batter into each muffin hole, filling each one about three-quarters full so the donut holes have room to rise.
- Bake: Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the donut holes are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool for 5 minutes before moving them to a rack.
- Prepare the Coating: Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Lightly brush each warm donut hole with melted butter so the coating sticks evenly.
- Coat the Donut Holes: Toss each donut hole in the cinnamon sugar until fully covered and fragrant.
- Fill with Nutella: Spoon melted Nutella into a piping bag fitted with a narrow nozzle. Gently pipe the Nutella into each donut hole until it puffs slightly.
Serve these Nutella churro donut holes while they are fresh and soft. They are delicious on their own, but they also pair beautifully with hot chocolate, coffee, or a simple glass of milk. For a dessert table, serve them beside fruit, crepes, or other cinnamon treats for a warm bakery-style spread.
Tips For Making Nutella Churro Donut Holes
- Do not overfill with Nutella. Stop piping once the donut hole expands slightly. Too much filling can cause the donut to split.
- Coat while warm. Cinnamon sugar sticks best when the donut holes are still a little warm and freshly brushed with butter.
- Use a squeeze bottle if needed. If you do not have a piping bag, a clean squeeze bottle or a small zip-top bag with one corner snipped can work.
- Make them ahead carefully. You can bake the donut holes a day in advance, but for the best texture, fill and coat them closer to serving time.
- Keep the batter smooth. Whisk until there are no lumps, but avoid overmixing once the batter comes together.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes. You can use a regular muffin pan, but fill each cup only halfway so the donuts stay smaller. The baking time may be a little longer, so check them closely.
You can fry them, but baking keeps the method lighter, cleaner, and easier. If frying, use medium heat and turn them until golden on all sides.
A piping bag with a narrow tip works best. A squeeze bottle or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off can also be used.
Nutella Churro Donut Holes Recipe
Nutella Churro Donut Holes
Ingredients
Donut Holes:
- 1 cup plain or all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
Filling:
- 1/3 cup Nutella, melted
Coating:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 24-count mini muffin tray with cooking oil spray, wipe away the excess, and set it aside.
-
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Make a well in the center, then add the oil, egg, vanilla, and milk. Whisk until smooth.
-
Spoon about 2 teaspoons of batter into each mini muffin hole, filling each one about three-quarters full. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
-
Brush each warm donut hole lightly with melted butter. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl, then toss the donut holes in the mixture until evenly coated.
-
Add the melted Nutella to a piping bag fitted with a narrow nozzle. Fill each donut hole gently until it expands slightly, being careful not to overfill.
Notes
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 11g
| Protein: 1g
| Fat: 3g
| Sugar: 6g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.