Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars Recipe
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.
- Author: Lila
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 9-12 bars 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly using the spatula to ensure uniform thickness.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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