Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars are a soft, cake-like treat with a sweet maple flavor and a simple glaze. They bake quickly in a 9×13 pan and slice into handheld bars that smell of warm maple and butter. The texture is tender and slightly airy, with a crisp edge and a glossy maple glaze that adds a sweet finish. If you like flavors like apple fritters, you might also enjoy a similar twist found at apple fritter waffle donuts for another cozy breakfast or snack idea.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 12 bars
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Nutrition Information
(Approximate per serving)
- Calories per serving: 330 kcal
- Protein: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fat: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 42 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
Why Make This Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
These bars give you the warm, sweet maple flavor of classic donut bars without frying. They bake in one pan, so cleanup is easy. The crumb is soft and tender from the buttermilk and butter, and the maple glaze adds a shiny, sweet finish. They work for breakfast, brunch, a school lunch treat, or an easy dessert. The recipe is straightforward and perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
How to Make Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
Follow a few simple steps: mix dry ingredients, whisk wet ingredients, combine gently, bake until slightly golden, and finish with a maple glaze. Keep an eye on the bake time so bars stay soft and not dry.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
Directions:
Step 1: Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray and lightly flour or line with parchment for easy removal.
Step 2: Mixing Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until evenly combined.
Step 3: Mixing Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk the 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 3/4 cup maple syrup until smooth and well blended.
Step 4: Combining Batter and Baking
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined—do not overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is lightly golden. Let the bars cool for a few minutes.
Step 5: Finishing with Glaze
In a small bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar with a little maple syrup (start with 1 tablespoon and add until you reach a smooth, drizzling consistency). Drizzle the glaze over the warm bars. Let glaze set for a few minutes, then slice into bars and serve.
How to Serve Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
Serve warm or at room temperature. They pair well with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk. For breakfast, stack bars with fresh fruit and yogurt. For a dessert twist, serve a bar with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of maple syrup.
How to Store Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Keep glaze-covered bars on a single layer or separate layers with parchment.
- Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container for 4–5 days. Bring to room temperature or warm briefly before serving.
- Freezer: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm briefly before serving.
Expert Tips for Perfect Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
- Measure flour correctly: Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off to avoid a dry, dense result.
- Don’t overmix: Stir until ingredients are just combined. Overmixing makes the texture tough.
- Check doneness early: Start checking at 20 minutes so the bars don’t overbake—look for a lightly golden top and a clean toothpick.
- Warm maple syrup: Slightly warm the maple syrup before mixing into wet ingredients if it’s thick—this helps it incorporate evenly.
- Glaze consistency: Add maple syrup to powdered sugar slowly. You want a glaze that drizzles but isn’t runny.
- Make-ahead: Bake the night before and glaze the morning of for fresher texture.
Delicious Variations
- Maple Pecan: Fold 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans into the batter and sprinkle extra pecans on top before glazing.
- Maple Cinnamon Swirl: Mix 2 tablespoons brown sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and swirl into the batter with a knife before baking.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Replace or add to the maple glaze with melted dark chocolate for a rich contrast.
- Blueberry Maple: Fold 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter for a fruity version (toss frozen berries in a little flour first).
- Vegan Option: Use a flax egg (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp water) and a plant-based buttermilk (soy or oat milk + 1 tbsp vinegar) plus vegan butter to adapt the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
A: Yes. If you don’t have buttermilk, make a quick substitute: add 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup milk, stir, and let sit for 5 minutes. This gives similar acidity and tenderizes the crumb.
Q: How do I prevent the bars from becoming soggy under the glaze?
A: Let the bars cool for 5–10 minutes before glazing. The glaze will set better on slightly cooled bars. Apply a thin first layer, let it set, and add a second thin drizzle if desired.
Q: Can I make these in a different pan size?
A: Yes. For thicker bars, use an 8×8 inch pan and increase baking time to about 30–35 minutes. For thinner bars, use a larger pan and reduce baking time slightly. Watch doneness with a toothpick.
Q: Why did my bars sink in the middle?
A: Common causes are underbaking, too much leavening, or overmixing. Make sure baking powder and baking soda amounts are correct and check that your oven temperature is accurate.
Q: Can I add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg?
A: Absolutely. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon or 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to the dry ingredients for a warm spice note that complements the maple.
Q: Is it okay to use imitation maple syrup?
A: You can, but real maple syrup gives a deeper, more complex flavor. Imitation syrup will still sweeten the bars but with a flatter taste.
Q: How do I get a thicker glaze?
A: Use less maple syrup or add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired thickness. Chill the glaze briefly to thicken before drizzling.
Conclusion
These Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars are an easy, comforting bake with soft texture, warm maple aroma, and a sweet, shiny glaze—perfect for a cozy morning or a casual dessert. For a different baked maple treat and more maple-glazed ideas, check out Homemade Maple Bar Donuts – Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the simple pleasure of maple in every bite.
Print
Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These soft, cake-like bars feature a sweet maple flavor and a glossy glaze, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup until smooth.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and top is lightly golden. Let cool for a few minutes.
- Mix powdered sugar with maple syrup until smooth. Drizzle over warm bars, let set, slice, and serve.
Notes
For added flavors, consider variations like Maple Pecan or Maple Cinnamon Swirl. Store in an airtight container for freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 59g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
