Description

These soft baked maple donut bars offer a tender crumb and a shiny maple glaze, delivering classic donut flavors without frying. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert, they are easy to make and bake in under 40 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
⅓ cup (80ml) pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup (180ml) whole milk or 2%
1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted (for glaze)
¼ cup pure maple syrup (for glaze)
½ teaspoon maple extract (optional, for glaze)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until evenly combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter and granulated sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
Stir in maple syrup and vanilla extract, then whisk in milk until smooth.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The top should be lightly golden and spring back when pressed.
Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack. Let bars cool completely (at least 30 minutes) before glazing.
In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar, ¼ cup maple syrup, and maple extract (if using) until smooth and pourable. Add milk teaspoon by teaspoon if glaze is too thick.
Drizzle glaze evenly over cooled bars using a spoon or offset spatula. Let glaze set for about 10 minutes before slicing into squares.

Notes

Use real pure maple syrup for best flavor. Do not overmix batter to keep crumb tender. Let bars cool completely before glazing to prevent glaze from melting off. Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze unglazed bars for up to 2 months and glaze after thawing.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 220
Sugar: 15
Sodium: 180
Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 32
Fiber: 1
Protein: 3

Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donut bars, soft donut bars, maple glaze, easy breakfast bars, tender crumb bars