1-Preparing Your Workspace: Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This preparation step ensures that your cookies won’t stick and will bake evenly, contributing to the perfect crispy texture you’re aiming for.

2-Mixing the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. This creaming process incorporates air into the mixture, which helps create a lighter final texture. Add the vanilla extract and egg to the creamed mixture, continuing to beat until everything is well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. The dough should be soft but manageable.

3-Forming and Coating the Cookies: In a shallow plate or bowl, mix together the cinnamon sugar coating ingredients: ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Form the dough into balls of approximately 1½ tablespoons each. This size yields perfectly proportioned cookies that bake evenly. Roll each dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture until completely coated. This step is essential for achieving that authentic churro flavor and appearance, creating a crispy texture as the cookies bake.

4-Baking to Perfection: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, watching carefully as the edges become set but the cookies remain primarily pale in color. The secret to maintaining that soft center is to avoid overbaking. Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling period allows them to set up properly, ensuring the ideal texture.

5-Adding Optional Churro Buttercream: While the cookies cool, you can prepare the optional buttercream frosting. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Beat everything together until smooth, adding milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread or pipe the buttercream onto the cookies. The contrast between the crunchy cinnamon sugar exterior and the creamy frosting creates a decadent treat that perfectly captures the essence of churro flavors in cookie form.