Maple Donut Bars Recipe
Delight in these moist and fluffy Maple Donut Bars topped with a luscious maple glaze and optional crunchy or sweet toppings. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, these bars combine classic donut flavors in an easy-to-make sheet pan treat that everyone will love.
- Author: Daniel
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 donut bars 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
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 thoroughly for at least 30 seconds to ensure even distribution.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter (cooled slightly), granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing; some flour streaks are fine.
- 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 pan and spread it out smoothly with a spatula.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges have a golden brown color.
- Cool: Let the donut bars 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 mixing bowl to remove any lumps.
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: Add the maple syrup, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the sifted powdered sugar.
- Whisk Until Smooth: Stir the glaze ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar as needed.
- Glaze the Donut Bars: Once the bars are fully cooled, pour the maple glaze evenly over the top.
- Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately after glazing, sprinkle your choice of chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon for extra texture and flavor.
- Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set completely, about 30 minutes to 1 hour, before cutting.
- Cut and Serve: Slice into squares or rectangles and serve your delicious maple donut bars fresh.
Notes
- You can substitute regular milk with almond or oat milk for a dairy-free glaze option.
- Ensure the melted butter is cooled before mixing with eggs to avoid scrambling.
- Do not overmix the batter; overmixing can make the bars tough.
- Store glazed bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Feel free to customize toppings to your taste, such as coconut flakes or chocolate chips.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/12 of recipe)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: maple donut bars, maple glaze bars, easy donut bars recipe, sheet pan donuts, breakfast bars, sweet snack bars