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Maple Donut Bars Recipe

Maple Donut Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 12 reviews

Maple Donut Bars are a soft, cake-like treat with a tender crumb infused with warm nutmeg and a rich maple glaze. This easy-to-make dessert combines the comforting flavors of traditional donuts with the convenience of a bar form, finished with optional toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, or crumbled bacon for added texture and flavor.

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

  1. 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 all dry components.
  2. 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.
  3. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter tender; some flour streaks are okay.
  4. 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.
  5. Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a spatula to the edges.
  6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges are golden brown.
  7. Cool: Allow the donut bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring the glaze will not melt.
  8. Sift the Powdered Sugar: Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl to remove any lumps for a smooth glaze.
  9. Combine Glaze Ingredients: Add the maple syrup, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the sifted powdered sugar.
  10. Whisk Until Smooth: Whisk all glaze ingredients together until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for thicker glaze.
  11. Glaze the Donut Bars: Once the bars are completely cool, pour the maple glaze evenly over the top, spreading it if needed.
  12. Add Toppings (Optional): Immediately sprinkle with chopped pecans, sprinkles, crumbled bacon, or any desired topping to add texture and flavor.
  13. Let the Glaze Set: Allow the glaze to set for 30 minutes to an hour at room temperature before cutting, so it firms up nicely.
  14. Cut and Serve: Cut the donut bars into squares or rectangles and serve as a delicious snack or dessert.

Notes

  • Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter will result in tough, dense donut bars instead of a tender crumb.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: Ensure your baking powder and baking soda are fresh to get proper rise and texture.
  • Cool Completely Before Glazing: Glazing warm bars will cause the glaze to melt and run off instead of setting properly.
  • Adjust the Glaze Consistency: Add more milk to thin the glaze or more powdered sugar to thicken, depending on your preference.
  • Get Creative with Toppings: Experiment with different toppings such as chopped nuts, sprinkles, or savory options like crumbled bacon to customize your bars.

Nutrition

Keywords: maple donut bars, maple glaze, easy donut recipe, baked donut bars, maple syrup dessert, soft donut bars

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/maple-donut-bars-recipe/