Description
These Maple Donut Bars are a delightful twist on classic donuts, baked into a convenient bar form. They feature a moist, tender crumb infused with warm spices and topped with a luscious maple glaze. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat, these bars can be customized with various toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, or even crumbled bacon for a sweet and savory contrast.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Maple Glaze
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup milk (or more, as needed)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Toppings (Optional)
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
- Sprinkles
- Crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg for at least 30 seconds to ensure they are evenly mixed.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted and slightly cooled butter, granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing; it’s okay if a few streaks of flour remain.
- Prepare the Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula to ensure uniform thickness.
- Bake: Bake the bars for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges turn golden brown.
- Cool: Let the donut bars cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Sift the Powdered Sugar: In a large bowl, sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps for a smooth glaze.
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: Add maple syrup, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the sifted powdered sugar.
- Whisk Until Smooth: Whisk all glaze ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if it’s too thick or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- Glaze the Donut Bars: Once the bars are completely cooled, pour the maple glaze over the top evenly, spreading with a spatula if necessary.
- Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon over the glaze to your liking.
- Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set for 30 minutes to an hour at room temperature before cutting.
- Cut and Serve: Slice the bars into squares or rectangles and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Ensure the melted butter is slightly cooled before mixing with eggs to prevent curdling.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and light.
- You can substitute milk with almond milk or another dairy-free alternative in the glaze for a different flavor or dietary preference.
- Customize toppings to suit your taste—try chopped toasted nuts for crunch or crumbled bacon for a savory contrast.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For easier cleanup, lining the baking pan with parchment paper is recommended.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Maple Donut Bars, baked donut bars, maple glaze, breakfast bars, fall desserts, easy baked donuts, spiced baked donuts
