Churros Rellenos de Cajeta (Cajeta-Filled Churros)
Hot cinnamon churros piped full of soft, goaty-sweet cajeta caramel, a fairground favourite you can make at home.
Made with Churro dough. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.64 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Stir the cajeta with the milk in a small bowl until loose enough to pipe but still thick. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small plain nozzle. Mix the sugar and cinnamon on a plate.
- 2
Spoon your ready made churro dough (see the base recipe) into a bag with a large star nozzle. Heat the oil in a deep pan, no more than one third full, to 180 degrees C.
- 3
Pipe 12 cm lengths into the oil, snipping with oiled scissors. Fry 3 or 4 at a time for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until deep golden.
4 min - 4
Drain on kitchen paper and roll in the cinnamon sugar while hot. Leave to cool for 3 minutes so the inside is not scalding.
- 5
Push the small nozzle into one end of each churro and squeeze in the cajeta until you feel it fill, then repeat from the other end. Serve warm.
Tips
- Cajeta is sold in jars in Mexican and world food aisles; thick dulce de leche is the easy swap.
- Fill churros after rolling in sugar, once they have rested for a few minutes, or the filling runs out.
- Too thick to pipe? Warm the cajeta jar in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten warm within 1 hour. Leftover filled churros keep a day in an airtight tin but soften; refresh for 5 minutes in a {t180} oven.
Questions
What is cajeta?
Cajeta is a thick Mexican caramel traditionally made by slowly cooking goat milk with sugar. It tastes a little tangy compared with dulce de leche, which is made from cow milk.
Can I fill the churros with something else?
Yes. Thick chocolate spread, jam, or sweetened cream cheese all pipe well, as long as the filling is thick enough not to run.
Are these dairy free?
No, cajeta and dulce de leche contain milk. The churro dough itself is dairy free, so use a dairy free caramel if you need that.
More made with churro dough
Churros con Natilla de Vainilla (Churros with Vanilla Custard)
NFVNOGChurros con Salsa de Café de Olla (Churros with Spiced Coffee Dip)
DFEFNFChurros Rellenos de Guayaba y Queso Crema (Guava and Cream Cheese Churros)
EFNFVCopa de Helado con Churros y Cajeta (Churro Sundae)
EFNFVDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.