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Maple Donut Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 144 reviews

These Maple Donut Bars are a deliciously soft and moist treat featuring a tender cake-like base infused with warm spices and topped with a smooth, sweet maple glaze. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, they combine the comforting flavors of traditional maple syrup and fresh nuts or fun toppings like sprinkles or crumbled bacon for extra texture and flavor.

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

  1. 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 even distribution.
  2. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Make sure the melted butter has cooled slightly before mixing.
  3. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing; a few streaks of flour are okay.
  4. 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.
  5. Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly to the edges using a spatula.
  6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges turn golden brown.
  7. Cool: Allow the donut bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Sift the Powdered Sugar: In a large bowl, sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
  9. Combine Glaze Ingredients: Add maple syrup, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the sifted powdered sugar.
  10. Whisk Until Smooth: Whisk all glaze ingredients together until silky and creamy. Adjust the milk or powdered sugar quantity to achieve your preferred glaze consistency.
  11. Glaze the Donut Bars: Once the bars are fully cooled, pour the maple glaze evenly over the top.
  12. Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle your choice of toppings such as chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon over the glaze.
  13. Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set completely, which usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour.
  14. Cut and Serve: Slice the donut bars into squares or rectangles and serve fresh.

Notes

  • Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and moist.
  • Use cooled melted butter to avoid cooking the eggs when mixing.
  • Customize the toppings according to your preference or dietary needs.
  • If you want a thicker or thinner glaze, adjust the amount of milk accordingly.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, maple glaze dessert, easy donut bars, homemade donut bars

Find it online: https://dailysimplerecipe.com/maple-donut-bars-recipe/