These homemade Brioche Donuts are soft, fluffy, fried until golden, and filled with a creamy blueberry cream cheese filling.
But we’re not stopping there.
After frying, the donuts are tossed in a colorful sugar coating made with granulated sugar and ube powder before being filled with blueberry cream cheese.
The result is a pillowy yeast donut with a rich, slightly tangy filling and sweet blueberry flavor in every bite.
And yes, they’re as good as they sound. 😂
What Makes Brioche Donuts Different?
Brioche dough is enriched with ingredients like butter, giving it a softer, richer texture than a basic yeast dough.
For this recipe, we’re using one full stick of unsalted butter, along with powdered whole milk and a little vegetable oil.
After kneading, the dough should become smooth and elastic. Give it enough time to rise, and you’ll be rewarded with those soft, fluffy centers we’re looking for.
Why The Ingredients Matter
Bread flour: Gives our enriched dough enough structure while maintaining that soft, chewy texture.
Instant yeast: Helps create the light, airy interior.
Butter: A full stick of unsalted butter adds richness and is an important part of the brioche-style dough.
Powdered whole milk: Adds richness while allowing us to use water as the primary liquid.
Blueberries: Frozen blueberries work perfectly for the filling, so this isn’t a recipe you have to save for blueberry season.
Cream cheese: Gives the filling its creamy texture and slight tang.
Ube powder: We’re using a small amount to give the sugar coating a beautiful color. You can substitute another natural coloring ingredient if preferred.
My Special Tip to Make Perfect Donuts
Give the dough the full kneading time (Important). With an enriched dough, don’t panic if it takes a little time to become smooth. Kneading can take up to 25 minutes.
Don’t keep adding flour. The dough should be soft. Adding too much flour can give you dense donuts.
Add the butter gradually. This makes it easier for the dough to incorporate the fat. Adding the fat all at once may not allow the dough to fully react butter properly.
When frying – watch your oil temperature. Keep the oil around 350°F. Oil that’s too hot can brown the outside before the center cooks; oil that’s too cool can produce greasy donuts.
Cool the blueberry mixture. Don’t add hot blueberries directly to your cream cheese.
Don’t fill hot donuts (Essential). Let them cool enough that the cream cheese filling won’t melt.
Few Questions You May Have
Why are my brioche donuts dense?
Dense donuts can happen when the dough hasn’t been kneaded enough, hasn’t had enough time to rise, or too much flour has been added. Knead this dough for the full 15-25 minutes and give it both rises.
Can I make the blueberry cream cheese filling ahead?
Yes, that’s better. Prepare the filling ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. I would fill the donuts closer to serving for the best texture.
Can I use whole milk instead of powdered milk?
Yes. You can substitute 2¼ cups whole milk for the 2¼ cups water and powdered milk. Because this recipe was originally developed with water and powdered whole milk, the texture may vary slightly.
How To Make Brioche Donuts
Pillowy Soft Brioche Donuts Recipe
Equipment
- Stand Mixer
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
For The Donuts
- 2 ¼ cup water; 115 degrees
- 3 tbsp. sugar cane sugar
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 4 tbsp. whole powder milk or simply use 2 ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 stick butter; unsalted
- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 2 ¼ tsp. instant yeast
- 6 cups bread flour
- Oil for frying
- Knead for 8-12 minutes.
For The Blueberry Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 8 oz cream cheese; soften
- 2 cups powder sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- ¼ cup heavy creamer
Sugar for Dusting
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp. ube powder or your favorite coloring ingredient
Instructions
- Make the Brioche DoughAdd the warm water, cane sugar, kosher salt, and powdered whole milk to a large measuring cup or bowl. Mix well.Add the bread flour and instant yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix to combine.Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and add the vegetable oil.Attach the dough hook and begin kneading on low speed for about 5 minutes.After 5 minutes, let the dough rest for about 3 minutes. Then resume kneading starting on low speed (try to stay between speed “stir and level 2) and gradually add the softened butter as the dough begins to come together.Continue kneading for 15-25 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel.Allow the dough to rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
- Shape & Second RiseGently deflate the dough with a clean hand and transfer it to a lightly floured work surface.Roll the dough to your desired thickness and cut into rounds.Transfer the cut donuts to individual pieces of parchment paper or a parchment-lined tray.Cover loosely and allow them to rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.Fry the Brioche DonutsHeat the frying oil to 350°F.Working in batches, carefully lower the donuts into the oil without overcrowding the pot. I usually fry 3 at a time.Fry for approximately 2–4 minutes per side, or until beautifully golden brown.Transfer the fried donuts to a wire rack or paper-towel-lined tray to drain.
- Make the Sugar CoatingCombine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ube powder (or desired color) in a shallow bowl.While the donuts are still slightly warm, gently coat them in the ube sugar mixture.Make the Blueberry Cream Cheese FillingAdd the refrigerated blueberries to a large mixing bowl.Add the cream cheese and beat the softened cream cheese, blueberries, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. You may notice some lumps from the berries, that’s okay. Add the vanilla extract, almond extract, and heavy cream.Continue mixing until well combined.Transfer the blueberry cream cheese filling to a piping bag fitted with a filling tip.Fill the DonutsOnce the donuts have cooled, make a small opening in the side of each donut.Insert the piping tip and gently fill each donut with the blueberry cream cheese filling.Serve and enjoy.
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