Maple Donut Bars Recipe
Delight in these soft and moist Maple Donut Bars, baked to perfection and topped with a luscious maple glaze. With a hint of nutmeg in the batter and customizable toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon, these bars offer the perfect balance of sweetness and texture, making them a delicious treat for breakfast or dessert.
- Author: Caleb
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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
Optional Toppings
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
- Sprinkles
- Crumbled bacon
- 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.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Ensure the butter is slightly cooled to prevent cooking the eggs.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing; some streaks of flour are acceptable.
- Prepare 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 evenly into the prepared pan and spread it out smoothly.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges turn a golden brown.
- Cool: Let the donut bars cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Sift Powdered Sugar: Sift the powdered sugar in a large bowl to remove lumps, creating a smooth base for the 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 the glaze ingredients until creamy and smooth, adding more milk or powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency.
- Glaze the Donut Bars: Once bars are completely cool, pour the maple glaze evenly over the top.
- Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle chopped pecans, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon over the glaze as desired.
- Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set completely for 30 minutes to an hour before cutting.
- Cut and Serve: Cut into squares or rectangles and serve your delicious maple donut bars.
Notes
- Ensure the melted butter is cooled slightly before mixing to avoid cooking the eggs.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and light.
- You can substitute whole milk for buttermilk to make a milder flavor.
- Customize your toppings to suit your taste – nuts, sprinkles, or even savory bacon work great.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Reheat briefly in the microwave for a freshly baked feel.
Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, maple glazed bars, breakfast bars, easy dessert recipe, nutmeg donut bars