These Blackberries & Cream Slider Doughnuts are a delightful treat perfect for breakfast or brunch. The doughnuts are made from a fluffy yeast dough, deep-fried to a golden crisp, and then dusted in sugar. They are filled with a luscious cream cheese filling and topped with juicy, fresh blackberries, making each bite a burst of sweetness and tang. This recipe is a fun twist on traditional doughnuts, with the slider format making them easy to serve and enjoy.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
For the Doughnut Dough:
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1 cup whole milk
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2 tablespoons sugar
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1 teaspoon salt
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1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
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2 tablespoons warm water
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3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
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2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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2 large eggs
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1/2 cup superfine granulated sugar
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Vegetable oil for frying (about 8 cups)
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
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8 ounces cream cheese (block, not whipped), softened
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2/3 cup powdered sugar
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3 tablespoons heavy cream
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1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Blackberries:
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2 quarts fresh blackberries
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2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
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Prepare the Dough:
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Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it simmers, then remove from heat. Stir in the sugar and salt, and allow the milk to cool to lukewarm.
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Proof the yeast by combining warm water and yeast in a bowl and letting it activate for 10 minutes.
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Once the milk has cooled, combine it with 2 1/2 cups of flour, vegetable oil, eggs, and the yeast mixture in a large bowl. Stir until combined; the dough will be thick and sticky.
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Transfer the dough to a floured surface, knead for 4-5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 1/2 hours.
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Make the Filling:
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Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
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Prepare the Blackberries:
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If the blackberries are large, cut them in half. Toss them with sugar and refrigerate.
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Shape and Fry the Doughnuts:
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Punch down the dough, roll it out to about 1/2-inch thick, and cut out rounds using a 2-3 inch cutter.
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Let the doughnuts rise for an additional 30 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in a pot to 375°F. Fry the doughnuts for 1 minute on each side, then transfer them to paper towels.
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Once slightly cooled, toss the doughnuts in superfine sugar.
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Assemble the Sliders:
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Slice each doughnut in half. Fill with a tablespoon of cream cheese filling and 4-5 blackberries. Close the doughnut to resemble a slider.
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Serve:
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Serve immediately while fresh.
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Nutritional Value (per doughnut)
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Calories: 200-250 kcal
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Total Fat: 10-12 g
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Saturated Fat: 4-5 g
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Cholesterol: 40-50 mg
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Sodium: 150-200 mg
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Total Carbohydrates: 28-32 g
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Dietary Fiber: 1-2 g
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Sugars: 15-18 g
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Protein: 3-4 g
These values are rough estimates and can vary depending on the specific ingredients used (e.g., type of cream cheese or oil) and the exact size of the doughnuts. For a more accurate nutritional breakdown, it’s recommended to input the recipe into a nutritional calculator with your exact ingredients.
Why This Recipe Works
The combination of warm, soft doughnuts filled with creamy filling and topped with fresh fruit creates a perfect balance of flavors and textures. The doughnuts themselves are light and fluffy, and the deep-frying method gives them a golden, crispy exterior. The cream cheese filling adds a rich, smooth contrast to the texture of the doughnut, while the fresh blackberries bring a burst of natural sweetness and slight tartness.
The slider format makes these doughnuts convenient and fun to serve, whether at a casual gathering, brunch, or just as a treat. Additionally, making these doughnuts from scratch means you can adjust the sweetness, filling, and fruit to your liking.
The Dough: Soft, Fluffy, and Golden
To create the dough for these doughnuts, a yeast-based dough is used, which ensures a light and fluffy texture. After heating the milk and adding the sugar and salt, the yeast is activated with warm water, and everything is mixed together to form a sticky dough. Kneading the dough for 4-5 minutes is essential to develop gluten and make the dough smooth and elastic.
Once the dough has risen for about 1 ½ hours, it is punched down and rolled out, ready to be cut into rounds. The doughnuts are then given another rise before they are fried. This process allows them to puff up during frying, creating that signature fluffy texture inside, while the outside crisps up to golden perfection.
The Cream Cheese Filling: Rich and Smooth
The cream cheese filling is what makes these doughnuts extra special. Combining cream cheese with powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract creates a rich and smooth filling with a perfect balance of sweetness and tang. The cream cheese adds richness and depth to the doughnuts, while the vanilla extract enhances the flavor.
Once the doughnuts are slightly cooled, the cream cheese filling is spooned into each one, making them decadently creamy on the inside. The filling complements the soft doughnut perfectly, and the fresh blackberries add a burst of flavor that makes each bite refreshing.
Preparing the Blackberries: Fresh and Sweet
For the blackberries, simply wash them thoroughly and cut them in half if they’re large. Toss them with sugar to bring out their natural sweetness, then refrigerate them for a short period to allow them to macerate slightly. This step intensifies their flavor and makes them even juicier.
Using fresh blackberries not only adds a beautiful pop of color but also provides a slight tartness that contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the cream cheese filling.
Frying the Doughnuts: Crispy Perfection
Frying the doughnuts at 375°F (190°C) ensures that they cook quickly and evenly. Frying them for 1 minute on each side gives them a golden-brown, crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and airy. After frying, the doughnuts are placed on paper towels to absorb any excess oil, keeping them light and not too greasy.
Once slightly cooled, the doughnuts are tossed in superfine sugar, which gives them a delicate sweetness and a nice dusting that complements the filling and the fruit.
Assembling the Sliders
After the doughnuts are fried and coated in sugar, they’re sliced in half, and a tablespoon of cream cheese filling is placed in the middle. A few blackberries are added to each, and the doughnut is closed up to form a slider. This slider format makes them easy to eat and serve, and the fillings stay in place beautifully.
These doughnuts are best served immediately while they are fresh and warm. The warm doughnuts combined with the cool, creamy filling and fresh fruit create a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Serving Suggestions
These Blackberries & Cream Slider Doughnuts are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with a hot beverage like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. They’re perfect for breakfast or brunch, and they make a great treat for dessert as well.
You could also add a dusting of powdered sugar or top with extra blackberries for a more decorative presentation. If you want to make them even more indulgent, serve with a side of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special treat.
Why You’ll Love Blackberries & Cream Slider Doughnuts
These doughnuts are irresistible, combining the richness of cream cheese, the sweetness of fresh blackberries, and the golden crunch of fried dough. The slider format makes them fun and easy to serve, while the combination of flavors and textures makes each bite a delicious indulgence. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or as a simple weekend treat, these doughnuts are sure to impress.
Conclusion
Blackberries & Cream Slider Doughnuts are a fun, delicious twist on traditional doughnuts. The combination of fluffy doughnuts, rich cream cheese filling, and juicy blackberries creates the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy flavors. Easy to make and perfect for breakfast or brunch, these doughnuts are a delightful treat that will quickly become a family favorite. Serve them warm for the best texture and flavor, and enjoy the burst of sweetness in every bite!