Churro Cheesecake Recipe

Today I’m bringing you a dessert that is nothing short of magical: a Churro Cheesecake Recipe! Imagine the warm, cinnamony, slightly crisp goodness of your favorite churro, but combined with the rich, creamy decadence of a cheesecake. This dessert delivers on all fronts—it’s quick to put together, absolutely beautiful, and the sweet and tangy contrast of the cinnamon-sugar crust with the smooth cream cheese filling is truly unreal. Get ready to impress everyone with this super simple, yet incredibly flavorful, baked treat that is guaranteed to be the star of your next gathering.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ultimate Comfort Food Mashup: It takes two beloved classics—churros and cheesecake—and combines them into one glorious, easy-to-make bar.¹ You get the crunch and spice of the churro with the cool, creamy filling!
• Simple & Stress-Free: We’re using refrigerated crescent roll dough as the crust, which is a brilliant shortcut that makes this recipe completely approachable, even for beginner bakers. Seriously, you barely need to get out the mixer.
• A Crowd-Pleaser: This dessert is perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a cozy weekend treat. It slices beautifully and the flavors appeal to just about everyone. Trust me, this one’s a game-changer.

Ingredients

All you need for this unbelievably delicious Churro Cheesecake Recipe are a few simple pantry staples and about 15 minutes of prep time! But first, gather up these ingredients:

• Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough: This is the genius shortcut! It forms both the tender, buttery bottom crust and the crisp, cinnamony top layer.
• Cream Cheese: Make sure this is softened—it’s the heart of our cheesecake filling, providing that essential smooth, tangy, and creamy texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Used to sweeten the cream cheese filling and, when mixed with cinnamon, creates the iconic “churro” coating.
• Unsalted Butter: Melted and poured over the top layer to help the cinnamon-sugar stick and give the crust that perfect golden-brown crispness.²
• Ground Cinnamon: The soul of the churro! It adds that warm, spicy fragrance and flavor we all adore.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla brightens the flavor of the cream cheese filling and gives it a lovely aromatic depth.
• All-Purpose Flour: A small amount helps stabilize the cream cheese filling so it sets up nicely and doesn’t ooze out when slicing.
• Salt: A tiny pinch is essential to balance the sweetness of the filling and bring all the flavors into sharp focus.
• Caramel Sauce or Chocolate Drizzle (Optional): The perfect finishing touch for an extra layer of decadence!

Note: The exact measurements for all of these fantastic ingredients will be right under this article in the recipe card!

How to Make the Churro Cheesecake

Making this Churro Cheesecake is so easy, it almost feels like cheating! Get ready to wow your friends with minimal effort.

Step 1: Prep and Preheat

Preheat your oven to $350^\circ\text{F}$ ($175^\circ\text{C}$) and give your 9×13-inch baking dish a light greasing. In a small separate bowl, stir together $1/2$ cup of your sugar with the cinnamon. This is our gorgeous churro topping—set it aside for later!

Step 2: Lay the Foundation

Unroll one can of the crescent dough and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Be sure to pinch those seams together well so your creamy filling stays put!

Step 3: Mix the Creamy Filling

In a mixing bowl, take your softened cream cheese (the key to a smooth filling!), the remaining $1/2$ cup of sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and that tiny pinch of salt. Beat it all together until it’s beautifully smooth and creamy. Once mixed, spread this luxurious filling evenly over the bottom dough layer.

Step 4: Top and Drench

Carefully unroll the second can of crescent dough and gently lay it right on top of the cream cheese layer, pinching the seams together once more. Now for the fun part: pour that melted butter evenly over the entire top layer of dough, and then generously sprinkle it with the cinnamon-sugar mixture you prepared earlier.

Step 5: Bake and Chill

Pop your cheesecake into the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is gorgeously golden brown and looks slightly crisp. The hardest part is next: you must allow it to cool completely before chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. This chilling time is non-negotiable for a perfect slice!

Step 6: Slice and Serve

Once completely chilled, slice it into squares or bars. If you want to make it extra special, drizzle it with a little caramel sauce or chocolate right before serving. Enjoy!

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Softened Cream Cheese is Key: For a perfectly smooth, lump-free filling, make sure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature. You should be able to press into it easily with a spoon.
• Pinch Those Seams: When pressing the crescent dough into the pan, be diligent about pinching the seams of the dough together on both the bottom and top layers. This prevents the filling from bubbling up or escaping during the bake.
• Chill Time is Your Friend: Do not skip or rush the chilling time! The cheesecake needs those 2 hours (or more!) in the fridge to fully set up. If you cut it warm, it will be a gooey mess—but if you chill it, you get clean, beautiful bars.

How to Serve

This Churro Cheesecake is pretty fantastic all on its own, but here are a few ways to serve it up and make it an even bigger hit:

• The Classic Drizzle: A little drizzle of caramel sauce or a dark chocolate ganache is the perfect complement to the warm cinnamon notes.
• A La Mode: Serve a square warm with a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream on the side—the cool ice cream against the warm dessert is heavenly.
• Fruity Pairing: A small side of fresh, slightly tart berries (like raspberries or blueberries) cuts through the richness beautifully.

Make Ahead and Storage

This is a fantastic make-ahead dessert! In fact, it’s actually better on the second day after the flavors have had time to fully meld together in the fridge.

Storing Leftovers

Place any leftover bars in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezing

You can freeze this cheesecake! Once completely cooled and sliced, place the bars in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheating

While it’s usually eaten cold, if you want a warm “churro” experience, you can warm a bar in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or in a $300^\circ\text{F}$ oven for about 5 minutes.

FAQs

1. Can I make this with low-fat cream cheese or sugar substitutes?

While you technically can, I strongly recommend sticking to the full-fat cream cheese for the best results. The fat content is key to achieving that rich, luxurious, and perfectly set filling. Using a low-fat version may result in a runnier filling. As for sugar, it adds both sweetness and structure, so substitutions can change the texture and overall perfection of the churro crust.

2. Why did my filling leak out from the sides?

This usually happens if the seams of your crescent roll dough weren’t completely pinched together, or if you had a small hole in either the top or bottom layer. Next time, take a few extra minutes to really press those seams together tightly and make sure the dough is completely sealed around the edges of the pan. The dough is easy to manipulate, so don’t be afraid to patch any small tears!

3. Do I have to let it chill for 2 hours? Can I serve it warm?

You absolutely must let it chill! When it first comes out of the oven, the cream cheese filling is essentially still liquid. The chilling time is what allows the filling to fully set up and become firm enough to slice into perfect, clean bars. If you try to cut it warm, it will fall apart and lose that beautiful, cheesecake-bar structure. Patience is a virtue here!

4. Can I use store-bought puff pastry instead of crescent rolls?

While puff pastry would be incredibly flaky, the texture wouldn’t be quite the same as the buttery, soft-yet-firm crust the crescent roll dough provides. The crescent roll dough is specifically designed to work for this type of layered bar, making it the superior (and easiest!) choice for getting that classic, home-baked texture that perfectly complements the creamy cheesecake filling.