Description

These adorable heart-shaped strawberry cheesecake donuts are the perfect sweet treat for special occasions like Valentine’s Day. They combine the rich, creamy flavor of cheesecake with the fruity freshness of strawberries, all packed into a soft, baked donut. Topped with a luscious strawberry glaze, they’re as beautiful as they are delicious!

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Donuts:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
1 large egg (room temperature)
2 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

For the Strawberry Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp fresh strawberry puree
1/2 tsp lemon juice (optional, for brightness)

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a heart-shaped donut pan with non-stick spray.
Make the Donut Batter:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Fold in the chopped strawberries gently.
Fill the Donut Pan:
Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared heart-shaped donut pan, filling each cavity about 2/3 full.
Bake the Donuts:
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the donuts are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, strawberry puree, and lemon juice (if using) until smooth. Adjust the consistency with more puree or sugar as needed.
Glaze the Donuts:
Once the donuts are completely cool, dip the tops into the strawberry glaze. Place them back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set.

Notes

For a stronger cheesecake flavor, you can add an extra ounce of cream cheese to the batter.
Make sure the donuts are completely cool before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.