Get ready to discover your new favorite dessert. These Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts combine a soft, baked vanilla donut with a rich, creamy, no-bake peanut butter cheesecake filling, all topped with a decadent chocolate peanut butter glaze. This recipe is surprisingly easy to make and delivers a truly unforgettable flavor experience. If you love the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, these donuts are an absolute must-try. They are perfect for a special breakfast, an afternoon treat, or a show-stopping dessert that will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts
- Irresistible Flavor Fusion: The combination of tangy cream cheese, rich peanut butter, and sweet chocolate is pure perfection.
- Incredibly Creamy Filling: We use a simple, no-bake cheesecake filling that is unbelievably smooth and decadent.
- Soft, Fluffy Texture: These are baked, not fried, resulting in a wonderfully light and cakey donut that perfectly complements the rich filling.
- Easy to Make: With clear, step-by-step instructions, even beginner bakers can achieve bakery-quality results at home.
The Key Ingredients for Success
Crafting the perfect Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts starts with quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the final flavor and texture. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Baked Donuts
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation for a tender and structured donut.
- Granulated & Brown Sugar: A mix provides both sweetness and a hint of molasses for moisture and depth.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leaveners create that essential light, fluffy, cake-like texture.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds richness.
- Milk & Melted Butter: Provide moisture and fat, resulting in a soft, tender crumb.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the other flavors in the donut base.
For the No-Bake Cheesecake Filling
- Cream Cheese: Use full-fat, block-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature for a lump-free filling.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: A good quality, creamy peanut butter is key for the smoothest texture.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes the filling without any graininess.
- Heavy Cream: Adds richness and helps create a light, airy consistency.
For the Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The rich chocolate base for our glaze.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Adds more peanut butter flavor and makes the glaze smooth.
- Butter: Provides a glossy finish and rich flavor.
For another treat that masterfully combines sweet and savory, check out these Bacon Cheeseburger Pinwheels.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create the most delicious homemade donuts you’ve ever had. We’ll break it down into making the donuts, preparing the filling, and finishing with the glaze.
Making the Donuts
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard donut pan with non-stick spray.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Mix Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined—be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough donuts.
- Fill Donut Pan: Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter evenly into each cavity of the donut pan, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Preparing the Cheesecake Filling
- Beat Cream Cheese and Peanut Butter: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and creamy peanut butter until smooth and well combined.
- Add Sugar: Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Finish with Cream: Add the heavy cream and vanilla, and continue to beat on medium-high speed until the filling is light and fluffy.
- Fill the Donuts: Once the donuts are completely cool, use a sharp knife to slice them in half horizontally. Transfer the filling to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a generous amount onto the bottom half of each donut. Place the top half back on. For a different but equally delicious filled pastry, try these delightful Cinnamon Cruffins.
Glazing and Finishing Touches
- Melt Glaze Ingredients: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the glaze is smooth and fully melted.
- Glaze the Donuts: Dip the top of each filled donut into the warm glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Set and Serve: Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set. For a faster set, you can place them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy!
If you’re looking for another easy dessert, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Snowballs are a no-bake delight!
Pro Tips for Perfect Donuts Every Time
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: For a tender, cake-like donut, mix the batter until the ingredients are just combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make your donuts tough.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For the smoothest cheesecake filling, ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature. This prevents lumps and ensures a creamy consistency.
- Cool Completely: Do not attempt to slice or fill the donuts until they are completely cool. Warm donuts are fragile and will fall apart.
- Use a Piping Bag: A piping bag is your best friend for both filling the donut pan neatly and applying the cheesecake filling beautifully.
Variations and Substitutions
- Go Nutty: Add some crushed peanuts or other chopped nuts on top of the glaze for a crunchy texture.
- Jelly-Filled Twist: Add a small dollop of raspberry or strawberry jam in the center of the cheesecake filling for a PB&J vibe.
- Different Glaze: Feel free to use a simple vanilla glaze or a plain chocolate ganache if you prefer.
- Peanut Butter Swap: You can experiment with chunky peanut butter in the filling for more texture, or even try almond butter for a different flavor profile.
Storing Your Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts
Due to the cream cheese filling, these donuts must be stored in the refrigerator. Place them in an airtight container in a single layer. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Please note that the texture of the donut may change slightly upon refrigeration. For best results, you can let them sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving to take the chill off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can bake the donuts a day in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. However, for the best freshness and texture, it’s recommended to fill and glaze them on the day you plan to serve them.
This recipe is specifically designed for oven baking, which creates a soft, cake-like texture. Using an air fryer would significantly change the cooking time and texture, and is not recommended for this batter.
Due to the cream cheese filling, leftovers must be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 3 days. Let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before enjoying.
If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake this batter in a muffin tin to create ‘donut holes’ or cupcakes. Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full and adjust the baking time, checking for doneness after 10-12 minutes.
For the smoothest filling and glaze, a standard creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy works best. Natural peanut butters can separate and may alter the texture of the filling and glaze.
The Ultimate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts Recipe
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts (The Ultimate Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard donut pan with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined—be careful not to overmix.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag. Pipe the batter evenly into each cavity of the donut pan, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and creamy peanut butter until smooth and well combined.
- Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add the heavy cream and vanilla, and continue to beat on medium-high speed until the filling is light and fluffy.
- Once the donuts are completely cool, use a sharp knife to slice them in half horizontally. Transfer the filling to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a generous amount onto the bottom half of each donut. Place the top half back on.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the glaze is smooth and fully melted.
- Dip the top of each filled donut into the warm glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set. For a faster set, you can place them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not overmix the donut batter to keep them soft and tender.
Store any leftover donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Share Your Creation!
We are so excited for you to try this Peanut Butter Cheesecake Donuts recipe! It’s a true delight for any dessert lover. If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out. Don’t forget to share a picture of your beautiful donuts on Pinterest and tag us!
