Description
Delight in these Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars, a perfect combination of tender cake-like texture and sweet maple glaze. These bars offer the comforting flavors of a classic maple donut in an easy-to-make, baked form that’s great for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup milk (whole or non-dairy)
- 1/4 cup melted butter (cooled)
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon evenly to combine the leavening and spices.
- Beat wet ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs, pure maple syrup, milk, and melted butter until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
- Combine wet and dry: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir just until everything is combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the bars.
- Pour batter and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake and check doneness: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the bars are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and glaze: Let the bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk to make the glaze, and drizzle it over the cooled bars before serving.
Notes
- Allow the butter to cool before mixing with eggs to prevent cooking the eggs prematurely.
- Use room temperature eggs to help batter combine better and produce a tender texture.
- For a dairy-free option, use plant-based milk and vegan butter substitutes.
- Make sure not to overmix the batter to keep the bars soft and fluffy.
- Store baked bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, soft baked bars, maple dessert, easy maple recipe, breakfast bars
