Baked Maple Donut Bars Recipe
Delightfully soft and moist baked maple donut bars with a sweet, smooth maple glaze. This easy-to-make recipe combines classic donut flavors with the convenience of baking in a single pan, perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack.
- Author: Mia
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze
- 1/2 cup maple syrup (or honey as substitute)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly to ensure the donut bars don’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Stir until evenly distributed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the texture light and tender.
- Bake the Bars: Spread the batter evenly in the greased baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Maple Glaze: While the bars are baking, whisk together the maple syrup and confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl until you get a smooth, pourable glaze.
- Cool and Glaze: Once the bars are done baking, let them cool in the baking pan for about 10 minutes. Then, drizzle the maple glaze evenly over the top.
- Set Glaze and Serve: Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before cutting the bars into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- If you prefer a dairy-free version, substitute whole milk with almond milk successfully.
- Honey can be used instead of maple syrup in the glaze, though the flavor will vary slightly.
- Do not overmix the batter to maintain the light, tender texture of the bars.
- Make sure to grease the pan well to prevent sticking.
Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, easy breakfast bars, maple glaze, sweet snack