Description

These Maple Donut Bars are a delightful baked treat featuring a tender, spiced cake base topped with a smooth maple glaze. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, they combine classic donut flavors with the convenience of a bar form, enhanced by optional toppings like nuts, sprinkles, or bacon for added 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
1 cup granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients

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 even distribution of the leavening agents and spices.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk melted and slightly cooled butter with granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, gently mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; some streaks of flour are acceptable.
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 to prevent sticking.
Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the prepared batter evenly into the baking pan and spread it to fill the pan uniformly.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges are golden brown.
Cool: Allow the donut bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
Sift the Powdered Sugar: Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl to remove any lumps, ensuring 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 until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency. Adjust milk or powdered sugar quantities as needed to get the desired thickness.
Glaze the Donut Bars: Pour the maple glaze evenly over the completely cooled donut bars, spreading gently if needed.
Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle with desired toppings such as chopped pecans, walnuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon for extra flavor and texture.
Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set fully for 30 minutes to an hour before cutting to ensure clean slices.
Cut and Serve: Slice the donut bars into squares or rectangles and serve as a delicious treat.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and light.
Ensure the melted butter is cooled slightly before mixing with eggs to prevent curdling.
Use fresh buttermilk for best flavor and texture; you can substitute with milk plus a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar if needed.
Customize toppings to suit preferences—nuts for crunch, sprinkles for fun, or bacon for a sweet-savory twist.
Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
Reheat bars slightly before serving to enjoy a warm, fresh-baked experience.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, maple glaze, breakfast bars, spiced donut bars