If you’re craving that warm, nostalgic, sweet-spiced scent that fills every corner of a Christmas market, these Cinnamon Sugar Crispy Chips will take you there—no passport required. Just like the photo above, they’re golden, bubbly, lightly curled at the edges, and generously coated in sparkling cinnamon sugar. Every bite is an airy crunch followed by a melt-in-your-mouth sugary finish. They’re fast to make, disappear even faster, and let’s be honest — they look like holiday magic on a plate. 🎄✨
Let’s unwrap this festive recipe together and learn how to create this addictive holiday snack that’s perfect for gifting, snacking, or adding sparkle to your Christmas dessert table!
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Cinnamon Sugar Chips
A Treat Straight from the Christmas Market
Ever wandered through a cozy European Christmas market and caught a whiff of fried dough and cinnamon in the cold air? These chips are that experience, minus the plane ticket. They’re reminiscent of churros, cinnamon twists, or even elephant ears — only they’re light, crackly, and whisper-thin.
Texture & Flavor That’s Totally Addictive
Here’s what makes them irresistible:
- Crispy and airy – not dense or greasy
- Caramelized at the edges – a light golden hue with bubbly spots
- Balanced sweetness – cinnamon sugar with just a pinch of salt to keep it from being too cloying
- Visually festive – they glisten, curl, and sparkle like something from a holiday dream
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything you need to recreate this recipe exactly like the photo:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Flour Tortillas | 6 large |
| Granulated Sugar | 1 cup |
| Ground Cinnamon | 1 tablespoon |
| Fine Salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Vegetable Oil | Enough for frying (about 1 inch depth in pan) |
These pantry-friendly ingredients come together like magic — the kind of recipe you can whip up without a grocery run.
Tortillas: The Secret Shortcut
Why tortillas? Because they fry up into perfect bubbly crisps without any yeast, dough rolling, or waiting time. They puff slightly, brown evenly, and curl at the edges just like in the photo. Flour tortillas are the way to go — not corn, which won’t give you the same airy effect.
Want that signature shape and texture? Choose room-temperature tortillas, not cold ones. Cold ones stiffen and fry flat, while room-temp ones puff and curl like pros.
Choosing the Right Cinnamon
Let’s talk flavor. You want that warm, fragrant cinnamon that smells like holiday mornings. While basic ground cinnamon works fine, Saigon cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon will take this to the next level — richer, spicier, and more aromatic.
Pair that with white sugar and you’ve got a mix that looks like glitter and tastes like a snickerdoodle. Yum.
Sugar Matters Too: Go for the Sparkle
Granulated sugar is key. It gives the chips their glittery coating and a bit of a crunch. Powdered sugar? That’ll melt right in — not what you want here. You want that visible sparkle that matches the photo and screams “holiday magic.”
Pro tip: use superfine granulated sugar if you want a more even coating. But standard granulated works great, too.
Let’s Talk Tools
Before you fry, let’s gather the right tools:
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter – For clean, even cuts
- Deep skillet or Dutch oven – Wide enough for easy frying
- Tongs or spider strainer – So you’re not splashing yourself with oil
- Mixing bowl – For tossing in cinnamon sugar
- Wire rack or parchment paper – For cooling and crisping
Optional but awesome: festive cookie cutters for star or tree shapes!
Cutting the Tortillas: Shape It Festive
Here’s where you can get creative. In the photo, you’ll notice that each chip has a wavy, free-form shape. That’s the magic of irregular, hand-cut pieces. You can do:
- Strips
- Triangles
- Squares
- Wavy-edged rectangles
- Cookie cutter stars and Christmas trees (extra festive!)
Want those beautiful curls? Don’t cut too large. Pieces about 2–3 inches wide puff and curl better than big ones.
Making the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
In a small bowl, combine:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
The salt here is crucial — don’t skip it! It balances the sugar and enhances the cinnamon flavor without making the chips taste “salty.”
Mix well until it’s all uniform. Set aside and keep it close to your frying station.
Frying the Chips: Where the Magic Happens
Heat about 1 inch of oil in your skillet or deep pan. You’re aiming for 350°F (175°C). No thermometer? No problem. Drop a small piece of tortilla in the oil — it should start bubbling immediately and puff up within seconds.
Fry in small batches. Don’t overcrowd the pan or the oil temp will drop. Here’s what to watch for:
- Bubbling and puffing within 5–10 seconds
- Light golden brown in color
- Edges curling up like a wavy ribbon
Flip once during frying to get both sides evenly golden. Use tongs to lift out each piece once it’s done (usually about 15–20 seconds per side).
Coating the Chips: Timing Is Everything
The second your chip comes out of the oil, drop it into your cinnamon sugar bowl. Not 10 seconds later — right away. That’s when it’s still hot and slightly oily, so the sugar sticks beautifully and evenly.
Toss gently to coat. You can even shake the bowl lightly to cover them fully, just like you’d toss wings in sauce.
Cooling & Crisping: The Secret to Long-Lasting Crunch
Once coated, lay the chips on a wire rack or parchment-lined baking sheet. As they cool, they become even crisper. Don’t stack them while warm — they’ll steam and soften.
Give them 5–10 minutes to fully cool before serving or storing.
Serving Suggestions
They look stunning served:
- In a gold-rimmed holiday plate (like the photo)
- Piled high in a decorative tin
- In a cone-shaped treat bag with ribbon
- On a dessert board with cocoa, marshmallows, and cookies
You can even drizzle a little melted white chocolate on top for extra flair.
Print
Christmas Cinnamon Sugar Crispy Chips
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Christmas Snacks
Description
✨ Ultra-light, bubbly, golden, and coated in sparkling cinnamon sugar — these Christmas crisps taste exactly like the magical treats you’d find at a holiday market. Crispy, sweet, warm, and gone within minutes! 🎄🍬
Ingredients
6 large flour tortillas
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon fine salt
Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
Mix the cinnamon, sugar, and salt together in a bowl and set aside. (⏱️ 1 minute)
Cut the tortillas into strips, squares, or festive shapes using a knife or pizza cutter. (⏱️ 3 minutes)
Heat about 1 inch of oil in a deep skillet to 350°F (175°C). (⏱️ 5 minutes)
Fry tortilla pieces in small batches until they puff, curl, and turn golden — about 10–20 seconds per side. Flip once for even color. (⏱️ 1–2 minutes)
Remove from oil and immediately toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture so it sticks perfectly. (⏱️ 1 minute)
Lay crisps on a wire rack or parchment paper to cool and become extra crunchy. (⏱️ 5 minutes)
Notes
Make sure the oil is fully heated to 350°F so the tortillas bubble instantly.
Toss the crisps in cinnamon sugar while still hot for perfect coating.
You can cut the tortillas into any festive shapes — stars, trees, bells, etc.
These crisps stay crunchy for days when stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 servings
- Calories: ~140 kcal
Storing for Freshness
Store these babies in an airtight tin or container for up to 5 days. They stay crisp and delicious — which makes them perfect for:
- Gifting to neighbors
- Packing into lunchboxes
- Holiday snacking anytime
Want to make them ahead? Go for it. They hold up well and don’t go stale if stored properly.
You may also like :
🎄 Christmas Lush Layer Dessert Recipe: A Festive, Creamy, Colorful Holiday Treat! ❤️💚
Cool Whip Christmas Crinkle Cookies – A Festive Treat Straight from the Heart🎄
Creative Twists on the Classic
Once you’ve mastered the classic cinnamon sugar version, it’s time to let your imagination run wild. These chips are like a blank holiday canvas — so go ahead and make them sparkle with some personal flair!
1. Chocolate Drizzle
- Melt white, dark, or milk chocolate and drizzle it lightly over the cooled chips.
- Let the chocolate set before serving.
- For extra fun, sprinkle with crushed peppermint or holiday sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
2. Nutmeg or Ginger Kick
- Add ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg or ginger to your cinnamon sugar mix for a more spiced flavor.
- It’ll give your chips a slightly deeper, more “gingerbread-like” warmth.
3. Vanilla Sugar Twist
- Mix a few teaspoons of vanilla bean paste or vanilla sugar into the coating.
- This gives the chips a subtle, bakery-style aroma.
4. Caramel Dust
- Swap half of the sugar for brown sugar to give a caramel-like coating.
- It melts slightly more during frying, giving a rich, toffee edge.
5. Savory-Sweet Option
- Before dusting, sprinkle a tiny pinch of cayenne or chili powder for that sweet-heat contrast.
- Great with a hot cocoa or spiced cider pairing.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving Estimate)
| Nutrient | Amount (approx) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 140 kcal |
| Total Fat | 6g |
| Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Sugars | 10g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Sodium | 100mg |
⚠️ Nutrition may vary depending on how much sugar you coat them with and how much oil they absorb. Fry quickly at the right temp (350°F) to minimize oil uptake and keep them light.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to create a treat that looks like it belongs at a Christmas market, but takes less than 30 minutes to make in your own kitchen — this is it. These Christmas Cinnamon Sugar Crispy Chips are everything: airy, golden, curled like delicate snowflakes, and dusted with glistening cinnamon sugar that makes them sparkle under twinkling lights.
Serve them fresh out of the fryer or cool and crisp from a tin — they’re always a hit. And just like the photo, they’re the kind of snack people can’t stop reaching for. Whether you’re building a dessert board, gifting edible treats, or just making a cozy night even cozier, these chips are your new holiday tradition.
Now go ahead, stack them high, sprinkle with extra cinnamon sugar, and watch them vanish like magic. 🎄✨
Similar recipes :
White Chocolate Christmas Puffcorn Munch – A Holiday Classic in the Making
White Chocolate Christmas Chex Mix: The Ultimate Festive Treat
FAQs
1. Can I bake these instead of frying?
Yes, but they won’t puff and curl the same way. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Spray lightly with oil and coat with cinnamon sugar while warm.
2. Can I use corn tortillas?
Not recommended. Corn tortillas tend to fry up denser and don’t create the same airy, bubbly texture. Stick with flour tortillas for that light, curly crisp.
3. How can I tell when the oil is hot enough?
Test with a small piece of tortilla — it should start to bubble and puff within 2–3 seconds. If it sinks and doesn’t move, the oil isn’t hot enough.
4. Can I make these ahead of time for gifting?
Absolutely! Let them cool completely and store in a tight-sealing tin. They’ll stay crisp for up to 5 days and are perfect for holiday treat bags.
5. What’s the best way to serve them?
Piled high on a holiday platter, drizzled with chocolate, or packaged in festive bags with ribbon. They pair beautifully with hot cocoa, cider, or even a wintery cocktail.
