Filled Donuts and Breakfast Hacks

Thursday, April 3, 2025
Elevate your store-bought baked goods and frozen breakfast favorites from plain to gourmet.

We've taken plain waffles, pancakes, donuts, and even cookie pairs and filled them with this whipped cream cheese recipe, then added anything from sprinkles to fresh fruits, jams and made them into a decadent gourmet hacks.

Whether you're a chocolate frosted cream donut lover or a Nutella filled waffle we have the easiest creations and ideas all set to make the best semi homemade breakfasts and desserts.

Scroll down to our recipe card for these easily printable ideas and step-by-step instructions and don't forget to read the tips and filling ideas!


filled donut with chocolate frosting





donuts filled with cream cheese filling


Simple Steps for Donut Hacks

  1. slice the donuts ( if using frozen waffles or pancakes toast them first, or another breakfast favorite and set them aside
  2. Note: cookies in pairs, or croissants, can be filled with one of our suggestions below
  3. make the  cream cheese filling for the donuts
  4. garnish with dip the top with frosting, melted chocolate, dust with powdered sugar, or roll in  cinnamon and granulated sugar


collage of filled waffles donuts and pancakes


Other Fillings and Garnish Ideas or Donuts

  1. lemon curd or pudding
  2. chocolate pudding
  3. any instant pudding
  4. any jams, jelly, or preserves, favorite flavors
  5. coconut cream
  6. jelly and cream cheese
  7. jelly and buttercream
  8. jelly and custard
  9. butterscotch pudding
  10. heavy cream whipped and sweetened
  11. Nutella
  12. fill with marshmallow creme
  13. strawberry pie filling is another good filling
  14. solo filling (almond flavoring)
  15. pie fillings in a can and chopped finely
  16. buttercream
  17. pumpkin pie filling, not puree
  18. dip in melted white or dark chocolate
  19. cover in sprinkles
  20. roll in powdered sugar
  21. roll in granulated sugar
  22. make a glaze with powdered sugar and water, and dip them
  23. use store-bought cookies and fill
  24. buy plain or premade glazed donuts and fill them
  25. fill bagels or brioche
  26. fill waffles, French toast, and, pancakes


sliced store bought donuts


Tips for Donut Hacks

  1. Fill them just before serving
  2. Dip them in a glaze of powdered sugar and water or garnish with powdered sugar, a cinnamon-sugar mixture, or granulated sugar
  3. Mini Donuts can be made, and the kids can have a family project, filling and dipping in their favorite sprinkles
  4. Add zest to the cream cheese filling for a lemon or orange flavor with coordinating extracts
  5. Add food coloring to the cream cheese for a fun, colorful filling
  6. Sprinkles can be added to the cheese filling
  7. For easier spreading of jams and jelly, if stored in the refrigerator, microwave them for 8 to 9 seconds (not melted)
  8. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easy spreading
  9. If the cream cheese is too thick, add a few drops of milk 


Pin for later



pin for later filled donuts and pastries


The Best Donut and Breakfast Hacks Ever!


Whether you're a Boston cream-filled, jelly-filled, or cheese-filled donut lover, any filling can be substituted to make these delicious quick donut hacks.

Fresh fruits, cream cheese, and even chocolate chips are all delicious garnishes and fun ways to make breakfast simple and spectacular.

Pancakes, waffles, French toast, and donuts will never be the same and go from plain to gourmet in minutes,s and a little creative mouth-watering desserts.


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American
Yield: 4
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Filled Donuts and Breakfast Hacks

Filled Donuts and Breakfast Hacks

These are store-bought plain donuts (or even cookies) sandwiched together with a decadent cream cheese filling, then rolled in cinnamon sugar.

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 10 Min

Ingredients

  • 4 plain store-bought donuts,, frozen waffles, pancakes, French toast sticks, or cookie pairs
  • Note: there are many filling suggestions in the note section of this recipe card
  • Cream Cheese Filling:
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: 2 tablespoon of mini chocolate chips, or orange and lemon zest
  • Cinnamon Sugar Garnish for rolling:
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • See notes for other filling ideas below

Instructions

  1. Slice the donuts lengthwise so you have a top and bottom and set them aside.
  2. Beat the cream cheese with sugar and vanilla.
  3. If it isn't spreadable, add a few drops of milk.
  4. Fill the donuts on the bottom half and top with the other half.
  5. Roll into cinnamon sugar mixture, dip in melted chocolate or a powdered sugar and water glaze, and serve!
  6. These can even be dusted with powdered sugar.
  7. Note: The Recipe can be doubled if needed for more servings.
  8. For more fillings and garnish ideas, refer to the notes below.
  9. Store any leftover covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator

Notes

Other Fillings and Garnish Ideas or Donuts

  1. lemon curd or pudding
  2. chocolate pudding
  3. peanut butter and jelly
  4. any jams, jelly, or preserves, favorite flavors
  5. coconut cream
  6. heavy cream whipped and sweetened
  7. jelly and cream cheese
  8. jelly and buttercream
  9. jelly and custard
  10. butterscotch pudding
  11. any instant pudding flavors
  12. add instant coffee
  13. Nutella
  14. fill with marshmallow creme
  15. strawberry pie filling is another good filling
  16. solo filling (almond flavoring)
  17. pie fillings in a can and chopped finely
  18. buttercream
  19. pumpkin pie filling, not puree
  20. dip in melted white or dark chocolate
  21. cover in sprinkles
  22. roll in powdered sugar
  23. roll in granulated sugar
  24. make a glaze with powdered sugar and water, and dip them
  25. use store-bought cookies and fill
  26. buy plain or premade glazed donuts and fill them
  27. fill bagels or brioche
  28. fill waffles, French toast and pancakes


Tips for Donut Hacks

  1. Fill them just before serving
  2. Dip them in a glaze of powdered sugar and water or garnish with powdered sugar, a cinnamon-sugar mixture, or granulated sugar
  3. Mini Donuts can be made, and the kids can have a family project, filling and dipping in their favorite sprinkles
  4. Add zest to the cream cheese filling for a lemon or orange flavor with coordinating extracts
  5. Add food coloring to the cream cheese for a fun, colorful filling
  6. Sprinkles can be added to the cheese filling
  7. For easier spreading of jams and jelly, if stored in the refrigerator, microwave them for 8 to 9 seconds (not melted)
  8. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easy spreading
  9. If the cream cheese is too thick, add a few drops of milk 


Nutrition Facts

Calories

180

Fat (grams)

10 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

6 g

Carbs (grams)

22 g

Fiber (grams)

0 g

Net carbs

22 g

Sugar (grams)

21 g

Protein (grams)

2 g

Sodium (milligrams)

89 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

29 mg

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.



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pin for later filled dounuts, waffles and pancakes


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