Description
Delight in these soft and moist Maple Donut Bars featuring warm spices and a luscious maple glaze. Perfectly baked and topped with a sweet maple drizzle, these bars combine the flavors of classic donuts in an easy-to-make, shareable format ideal for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- Extra maple syrup for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with non-stick spray or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until well combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the melted butter, whole milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup together until smooth and uniform.
- Mix Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl. Fold gently with a spatula or wooden spoon just until combined; some lumps are fine—avoid overmixing to keep bars tender.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking pan using a spatula.
- Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges turn lightly golden.
- Cool the Bars: Remove from the oven and let the bars cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Maple Glaze: While bars cool, whisk powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk in a medium bowl until smooth. Add more milk by the teaspoon if needed to achieve a thick but pourable consistency.
- Add Maple Syrup to Glaze: Stir in 2 tablespoons of maple syrup into the glaze for a rich flavor boost.
- Glaze the Bars: Once bars are fully cooled, place them on a serving platter. Drizzle the maple glaze evenly over the top using a spoon or spatula.
- Optional Extra Maple Drizzle: For added sweetness and a pretty finish, drizzle extra maple syrup over the glazed bars.
- Set the Glaze: Allow the glaze to set for 10-15 minutes at room temperature before slicing the bars into squares or rectangles.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars light and tender.
- Make sure bars are completely cooled before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting.
- You can substitute whole milk with a dairy-free alternative if desired, but it may slightly affect texture.
- For a stronger maple flavor, add a little maple extract to the glaze.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, maple glazed bars, dessert bars, breakfast bars, easy baking recipe
