Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars

There’s something uniquely comforting about the flavor of maple, and these Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars capture that feeling perfectly. This easy recipe gives you tender, cake-like donut bars with a silky maple glaze, all without the fuss of frying. They are the perfect soft bakes for a cozy morning with a cup of coffee.

My sister Jennifer and I first baked these on a cozy autumn afternoon, trying to capture the magic of our favorite bakery’s maple bars. The warm scent of maple and cinnamon filling Mom’s kitchen became one of my most treasured memories. These donut bars always take me right back.

A Few Reasons You’ll Adore This Recipe

• No Frying Needed: These donut bars are baked, not fried, making them a simpler and lighter alternative to traditional donuts.
• Quick and Easy: The batter comes together in minutes with basic pantry staples.
• Bakery-Style Treat: Enjoy the soft texture and rich flavor of a bakery-style maple donut bar right from your own oven.
• Perfectly Glazed: A simple four-ingredient maple glaze provides a sweet, smooth finish.

Gathering Our Ingredients

For the Donut Bars:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg

For the Maple Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon milk (add more for thinner glaze)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

My Trusted Kitchen Helpers for This Recipe

Donut Bar Pan

A specialized pan helps create that classic, uniform donut bar shape, making them look as good as they taste.

Wire Cooling Rack

Allowing the donut bars to cool on a wire rack is essential for getting the glaze to set perfectly without making the bottoms soggy.

Our Simple Path to Perfect Maple Bars

Warming Up the Kitchen

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, lightly grease your donut bar pan or small rectangular molds. This little bit of prep ensures your donut bars will pop out easily later.

Starting with Our Flour and Spices

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. I like to give it a good whisk to make sure everything is evenly distributed, it’s the secret to a perfect, uniform crumb.

Bringing in the Buttermilk and Maple

In a separate bowl, it’s time to whisk the wet ingredients. Combine the buttermilk, melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and the egg. Whisk until it’s all smooth and beautifully blended. Using ingredients at room temperature helps them combine more easily.

Folding It All Together

Now, pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until everything is just combined. The most important tip here is not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine and lead to tender donuts.

Baking to Golden Perfection

Carefully spoon or pipe the batter into your prepared molds, filling each one evenly. Pop them into the preheated oven and bake for 12–14 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when a toothpick inserted into the center of a bar comes out clean.

A Moment of Patience

Once baked, let the donut bars cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here; letting them cool ensures the glaze will set properly instead of melting off.

The Sweet Finishing Touch

While the donut bars are cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar, pure maple syrup, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. You can adjust the milk to get your desired glaze consistency. Once the bars are cool, you can dip the tops or drizzle the glaze over them.

A Gentle Note on Nutrition

Please note that the nutritional information provided is an estimate and can vary based on the specific ingredients and quantities used. This information is for guidance purposes only.

For a Lighter Maple Treat

• Use Whole Wheat Flour: For added fiber, you can substitute half of the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour.
• Reduce Sugar: You can slightly reduce the granulated and brown sugar in the batter. For the glaze, start with less powdered sugar and adjust to your taste.
• Apple Sauce Swap: Replace half of the melted butter with unsweetened applesauce to lower the fat content while keeping the bars moist.

Ways We Love to Serve Them

• Classic Coffee Pairing: These maple donut bars are the perfect companion to a warm cup of coffee or tea for a comforting breakfast or afternoon snack.
• A La Mode: Gently warm a donut bar and serve it with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a simple yet elegant dessert.
• Add a Topping: For a bit of crunch, sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts over the glaze before it sets.

Secrets to a Perfect Batch

• Overmixing the Batter: Stirring the batter too much can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough, dense donut bars instead of light and fluffy ones.
• Overbaking: Keep a close eye on the baking time. Overbaking can dry out the donut bars, making them crumbly. The toothpick test is your best friend here.
• Glazing While Warm: Glazing the donut bars while they are still warm will cause the glaze to melt and run off. Ensure they have cooled completely for a beautiful, set glaze.

Keeping Your Donut Bars Fresh

To keep your Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you need to store them longer, you can place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper, and freeze for up to three months. To thaw, leave them at room temperature.

From My Kitchen to Yours

There is so much love baked into these simple donut bars. I hope this recipe brings a little bit of that warmth and joy into your own kitchen. Whether you’re sharing them for a special breakfast or enjoying a quiet moment to yourself, my wish is that you create your own sweet memories with every bite. Happy baking!

Just in Case You Were Wondering…

What if I don’t have a donut bar pan?

Yes, if you don’t have a donut bar pan, you can use a standard muffin pan. Just be sure to adjust the baking time, as they may cook a bit faster. Start checking for doneness around the 10-minute mark.

Can I make a gluten-free version of these bars?

While this recipe was developed with all-purpose flour, you could try substituting a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. The texture may be slightly different, but they should still be delicious.

My glaze is too thick or thin, how can I fix it?

The key is to add the milk slowly. Start with one tablespoon and whisk it in. If the glaze is too thick, add more milk, just a half teaspoon at a time, until it’s smooth and pourable but still thick enough to coat the donut bars.

Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars

---

• Author: Sarah
• Total Time: 29 minutes
• Yield: 8 donut bars 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Tender, cake-like donut bars with a silky maple glaze — baked to perfection without frying. A cozy, maple-infused treat that pairs beautifully with coffee.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon milk (add more for thinner glaze)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

---

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease your donut bar pan or small rectangular molds.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
3. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and egg until smooth.
4. Pour wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Spoon or pipe the batter into molds, filling each evenly. Bake 12–14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Let cool in the pan a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust milk for consistency.
8. Dip or drizzle glaze over cooled donut bars and let set.

Notes

Avoid overmixing and overbaking to keep the bars tender. Allow them to cool fully before glazing for best results.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 14 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Dessert
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 donut bar
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 130mg
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 40mg

Keywords: maple donut bars, baked donuts, maple glaze, soft baked