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Cherry Cheesecake Baked Mini Donuts

Cherry Cheesecake Baked Mini Donuts

Real cherries in these delightfully healthy donuts topped creamy glaze and sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs – Cherry Cheesecake Baked Mini Donuts are just the right sweet treat for summer!

Cherry Cheesecake Baked Donuts | @TspCurry

As co-owner of The Recipe ReDux, I was compensated by Splenda to manage this recipe contest.

Which donut do you love more?

An old-fashioned glazed cake donut?

Or, as my grandma would say, “one of those new-fangled donuts.” You know, the chef-inspired type, like maybe Blueberry Rosemary with Lemon Glaze?

I’m probably more of a plain-jane donut girl. I *heart* all donuts, but I swoon over a plain ol’ cake donut with a hint of nutmeg.

This summer, I finally bought a mini donut pan. (affiliate link) So I’ve been testing both old-fashioned and fancy-pants donuts. These Cherry Cheesecake Baked Mini Donuts are a mash-up of both: Old-fashioned flavor, with sorta-fancy toppings.

Cherry Cheesecake Baked Donuts | @TspCurry

Now Grandma never got a chance to bake with SPLENDA® Naturals Sugar & Stevia Blend, but since she had diabetes, she would have loved it. I love the fact that (unlike other low-calorie sweeteners I’ve tasted) SPLENDA Naturals has zero aftertaste in baking. So I’m thrilled that SPLENDA Naturals is sponsoring this month’s Recipe ReDux recipe contest.  Here’s the ‘scoop’ on this natural sweetener:

  • SPLENDA® Naturals Sugar & Stevia Blend gets its unique sweetness from Reb D, one of the tastiest parts of the stevia leaf
  • It’s made from only 2 non-GMO ingredients: stevia + cane sugar
  • It can be used anywhere you would use sugar
  • Has 50% fewer calories than sugar
  • A ½ teaspoon has the same amount of sweetness as a full teaspoon of traditional sugar
  • No artificial ingredients or added flavors

Cherry Cheesecake Baked Donuts | @TspCurry

Now, back to these Cherry Cheesecake Baked Mini Donuts…they contain real cherries stirred into the almond-extract-scented batter. And if you’re a true cherry cheesecake fan, you know the best cheesecakes have this perfect flavor combo of cherries + almond. I used canned Morello cherries and topped the donuts with a simple 3-ingredient cream cheese glaze#ad A sweet treat: Cherry Cheesecake Mini Baked Donuts via @TspCurry #TheRecipeReDux Click To Tweet

My kids thought these were the best donuts I made all summer. Grandma would have loved them too, even though they are kinda ‘new-fangled.’

Cherry Cheesecake Baked Donuts | @TspCurry

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Cherry Cheesecake Baked Donuts | @TspCurry

Cherry Cheesecake Baked Mini Donuts


  • Author: Serena Ball

Description

Made with real fruit, these Cherry Cheesecake Mini Baked Donuts are pure delight – especially when topped with thick cream cheese glaze and naturally colored pink cherry glaze and sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup canned Morello cherries, both cherries and juice
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • ⅓ cup SPLENDA® Naturals Sugar & Stevia Blend
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 graham cracker sheet, crushed into crumbs

Glaze

  • 2 ounces Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon SPLENDA Naturals Sugar & Stevia Blend, divided
  • 1 tablespoon Morello cherry juice
  • 1 tablepoon milk

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt.

Using a mini food processor or blender, puree cherries and juice; add to a small bowl. Whisk in eggs, almond extract, SPLENDA Naturals Blend and butter. Add mixture to flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon just until flour is mixed in.

Spoon batter into a plastic zip-top bag and twist top to seal. Snip a 1/2-inch triangle off the corner of the plastic bag. Pipe the batter into a mini donut pan, filling about 3/4-full. Bake in a 375-degree-F oven for about 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake, or donuts will be tough. Cool donuts in pan on cooling rack. Remove donuts from pan to glaze.

To make two glaze flavors, place 1 ounce cream cheese in a small bowl. Place 1 ounce cream cheese in another small bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon SPLENDA Naturals Blend to each bowl. Add cherry juice to 1 bowl and mix with a whisk (or fork) until smooth and creamy. To other bowl, add milk and mix until creamy. Top donuts with both glazes and graham cracker crumbs.

Notes

This recipe also makes about 20 mini-muffins if you do not have a baked donut pan.

Canned Morello cherries are usually found in large jars in the canned fruit aisle. (These are NOT maraschino cherries.) I’ve found Morello cherries at both ALDI and Trader Joes. You can also use canned dark cherries.

Tip: Check cherries for any stray pits. I found one AFTER the cherries went through my mini food processor.

Have you ever made homemade donuts? Baked or fried?

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AD: Sweet delights with creamy cherry glaze: CHERRY CHEESECAKE BAKED MINI DONUTS | @TspCurry - More HEALTHY recipes at Teaspoonofspice.com

Sarah

Monday 4th of September 2017

These look amazing Serena - I LOVE the flavor of almond extract!

Brittany Poulson

Sunday 3rd of September 2017

I am an old fashioned donut girl for sure, but these look and sound delicious! I just need to get me a donut pan!

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