Description
These Maple Donut Bars are a deliciously tender and moist baked treat, featuring a delightful maple glaze topped with your choice of chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon. Perfect for brunch or dessert, they combine classic donut flavors in an easy-to-make bar form.
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 and slightly cooled butter, granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, gently mixing until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender, leaving a few flour streaks is fine.
- Prepare the Baking Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula for uniform baking.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges turn golden brown.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
- Sift the Powdered Sugar: Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl to remove any lumps for a smooth glaze.
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: Add the pure maple syrup, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the powdered sugar.
- Whisk Until Smooth: Whisk the glaze ingredients together until smooth and creamy; adjust with more milk or powdered sugar to achieve desired consistency.
- Glaze the Donut Bars: Once the bars are completely cool, pour the maple glaze evenly over the top, spreading gently if needed.
- Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon over the glaze before it sets.
- Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set for 30 minutes to an hour at room temperature before cutting into bars.
- Cut and Serve: Cut the donut bars into squares or rectangles and serve fresh for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use buttermilk for a tender crumb; you can substitute with milk plus a tablespoon of vinegar if needed.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough bars.
- The glaze consistency can be adjusted by adding more milk for thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for thicker glaze.
- Optional toppings add texture and flavor contrast; experiment with your favorites.
- Store leftover donut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, maple glaze donut bars, easy dessert bars, maple syrup glaze, nutmeg donut bars