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Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars Recipe

4.5 from 136 reviews

These Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars offer a delightful twist on traditional donuts with a tender, cake-like texture infused with warm cinnamon and pure maple syrup. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack, these bars deliver all the comforting flavors of maple donuts in an easy-to-make, convenient square shape that’s perfect for sharing or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal, and lightly grease the parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon until fully combined and evenly distributed.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the melted unsalted butter, pure maple syrup, milk, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain the soft texture of the bars.
  5. Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly using the spatula to ensure uniform thickness.
  6. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool Bars: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang and allow them to cool completely on the rack.
  8. Slice and Serve: Once fully cooled, cut the bars into desired sizes and serve. Enjoy these soft baked maple donut bars as a delicious treat anytime!

Notes

  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars soft and tender.
  • Ensure the bars cool completely before cutting to prevent crumbling.
  • You can substitute milk with a dairy-free alternative for a lactose-free version.
  • Adjust cinnamon amount to your preferred spice level.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Keywords: maple donut bars, soft baked bars, maple cinnamon bars, baked donut recipe, breakfast bars, easy baked snacks