Description
Delight in these Maple Donut Bars, a light and fluffy baked treat infused with warm spices and natural maple sweetness. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, these bars combine tender cake-like texture with a smooth, maple glaze topping that sets beautifully for a bakery-style finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- Optional: maple extract, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground nutmeg until well combined and evenly distributed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, whole milk, melted unsalted butter, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and pure maple syrup until smooth and homogenous.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter tender and light.
- Bake the Bars: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bars are fully cooked.
- Prepare the Glaze: While the bars cool slightly, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and optional maple extract in a bowl until smooth and pourable.
- Glaze and Set: Pour the glaze over the warm bars and spread evenly with a spatula. Allow the glaze to set before slicing the bars into 12 equal pieces.
Notes
- For a bakery-style finish, let the bars cool slightly before glazing so the glaze sets on top without fully soaking in.
- Optionally, top the bars with chopped nuts or crispy bacon bits for added texture and flavor.
