Maple Donut Bars (Printable)

Soft bars with maple glaze, perfect for breakfast or brunch

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1/2 cup maple syrup

→ Maple Glaze

12 - 1 cup powdered sugar
13 - 1-2 tablespoons milk
14 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line with parchment paper for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, whole milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup until completely smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Gently fold together with a spatula until just combined—do not overmix to maintain tender texture.
05 - Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and edges are lightly golden.
06 - Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
07 - Whisk together powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk until smooth. Add more milk as needed to reach a thick but pourable consistency. Stir in maple syrup for flavor.
08 - Once the bars are completely cool, drizzle the maple glaze evenly over the top. Allow glaze to set for 10-15 minutes before slicing into bars.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is incredibly light and airy, just like a fresh donut but without the mess of hot oil
  • That maple glaze soaks into the warm bars creating the most irresistible sticky sweet topping
  • They come together in under an hour but taste like you spent all morning in the kitchen
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make these bars tough and dense—gentle folding is the secret to their light texture
  • The bars must be completely cool before glazing or the frosting will melt right off
  • Real maple syrup is non negotiable here—artificial pancake syrup won't give you that authentic flavor
03 -
  • Line your pan with parchment paper leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal and slicing
  • If your glaze is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency
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