Description
These Maple Donut Bars are a delicious twist on classic donuts baked in a rectangular pan for easy serving. Soft and moist with a tender crumb, they feature a warm blend of nutmeg and vanilla in the batter, baked to golden perfection. Finished with a shiny, sweet maple glaze and optional toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon, these bars are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack.
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 even distribution of the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter (slightly cooled), granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing; some streaks of flour remaining are acceptable to keep the batter tender.
- 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 evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top so it’s level.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges turn 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: To make the glaze, sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl to remove any lumps and ensure a smooth glaze.
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: Add the maple syrup, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the powdered sugar.
- Whisk Until Smooth: Whisk all glaze ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if too thick, or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- Glaze the Donut Bars: Once the donut bars are completely cooled, pour the maple glaze evenly over the top.
- Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle your choice of toppings such as chopped pecans, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon over the glaze.
- Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour until firm enough to cut.
- Cut and Serve: Cut the bars into squares or rectangles and serve them as a sweet breakfast treat or dessert.
Notes
- Make sure the melted butter for the wet ingredients is not too hot to prevent cooking the eggs when mixed.
- Buttermilk can be substituted with regular milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar for acidity.
- Adjust the glaze thickness by adding milk or powdered sugar gradually for desired consistency.
- Optional toppings add texture and flavor variation but can be omitted for a classic glaze finish.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, maple glaze dessert, breakfast bars, easy baked donuts
