Description
Indulgent heart-shaped strawberry cheesecake donuts bring romance to sweet treats with creamy cheesecake filling and fresh strawberry glaze. Delicate pastry pockets promise pure bliss, melting effortlessly on palates craving passionate dessert perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup buttermilk (or ½ cup milk + ½ teaspoon vinegar)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping and Glaze Ingredients:
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink or red food coloring (optional)
- Crushed freeze-dried strawberries
- Heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the kitchen workspace by preheating the oven and preparing a heart-shaped donut pan with a light coating of non-stick spray.
- Create the dry mixture by combining flour, sugar, leavening agents, and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- In a separate vessel, whisk together liquid components including buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until thoroughly integrated.
- Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the batter, which could result in dense donuts.
- Carefully transfer batter into the donut pan, filling each cavity approximately three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
- Place pan in preheated oven and bake until donuts develop a delicate golden exterior and pass the toothpick test for doneness.
- Allow donuts to rest in the pan for a brief cooling period before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Craft the cheesecake filling by whipping cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until achieving a silky smooth consistency.
- Incorporate finely diced strawberries into the cream cheese mixture, folding gently to maintain texture.
- Use a piping bag with a slender tip to create a small entry point in each donut’s side.
- Carefully inject strawberry cheesecake filling into each donut, ensuring an even and generous distribution.
- Prepare a glossy glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk and vanilla until achieving a smooth, drippable consistency.
- Add a hint of pink or red food coloring to enhance the visual appeal of the glaze.
- Immerse each donut into the glaze, allowing excess to gracefully drip away.
- Embellish with freeze-dried strawberry pieces or festive heart-shaped sprinkles while the glaze remains slightly tacky.
Notes
- Precision matters when filling donuts, use a piping bag with a small round tip to control the amount of strawberry cheesecake filling for consistent, even stuffing.
- Prevent overmixing batter by gently folding ingredients until just combined, which ensures tender, light donuts with a soft crumb texture.
- Enhance flavor depth by using room temperature ingredients, especially cream cheese and buttermilk, which blend more smoothly and create a more harmonious taste profile.
- Adapt for dietary needs by substituting gluten-free flour blend, using dairy-free cream cheese alternatives, and replacing buttermilk with plant-based milk mixed with apple cider vinegar for similar tang and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg