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Classic Maple Donut Bars Recipe

Classic Maple Donut Bars Recipe


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4.5 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 35-40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

These maple donut bars bring sweet Canadian comfort straight to your kitchen counter, delivering a delightful treat that whispers of weekend breakfast nostalgia and pure maple magic.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup

Supporting Ingredients:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Finishing Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Warm your oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring every corner is covered.
  2. Grab a spacious mixing bowl and thoroughly combine 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup brown sugar using a whisk.
  3. In a separate bowl, blend 2 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk, ¼ cup melted butter, ½ cup maple syrup, and 1 tsp vanilla extract until the mixture looks silky and uniform.
  4. Merge the wet and dry ingredients gently, stirring just until incorporated – resist the urge to overmix, which can make your bars tough.
  5. Transfer the batter into your prepared dish, using a spatula to distribute it evenly across the surface.
  6. Slide the dish into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and checking doneness with a clean toothpick.
  7. After removing from the oven, let the bars cool completely before whisking 1 cup powdered sugar with additional maple syrup to create a smooth, pourable glaze.
  8. Drizzle the glossy maple glaze generously over the cooled bars, allowing it to set for a few minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Brown sugar and maple syrup create a rich, deep flavor that makes these bars taste just like classic donuts without deep frying.
  • Gently mix the batter to keep the bars tender, as overmixing can make them tough and dense instead of soft and cake-like.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking blend to maintain the same texture.
  • When checking doneness, insert a toothpick in the center – it should come out with just a few moist crumbs for the most perfect, moist bars.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert Bars
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 293 kcal
  • Sugar: 27 g
  • Sodium: 146 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 48 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 43 mg