These soft baked maple donut bars are thick, pillowy, and absolutely loaded with Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars flavor. The texture is somewhere between a cake and a fluffy Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars, with a glossy maple glaze that sets into the perfect sweet coating. I first made these on a Saturday morning when Emma was begging for donuts but I didn't want to deal with hot oil, and honestly, these turned out even better than I hoped. They're simple to throw together with pantry ingredients, and you get all that bakery-style maple goodness without any frying mess.
If you love easy breakfast treats, you might also enjoy my Easy Italian Love Cake: Addictive, Creamy, and Decadent Dessert for another no-fuss morning favorite, or try these Easy French Chocolate Flan - Classic Custard Dessert Made when you want something equally comforting. For more Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars recipes, my mapleGerman Pancakes Recipe: Addictive & Easy Breakfast Idea are another family favorite.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
These softSoft Baked Maple Donut Bars Donut Bars bars are everything you want in a breakfast treat without any of the hassle. The batter comes together in minutes, and you don't need any special skills or fancy equipment. Just mix, pour, and bake.
The texture is incredibly soft and fluffy, with a hint of cinnamon that makes the Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars flavor really pop. And that glaze? It's rich, smooth, and perfectly sweet. You get all the satisfaction of homemade Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars with way less effort and zero hot oil to worry about.
Kids love these because they're sweet and fun to eat. Adults love them because they taste like something from a bakery but take almost no time to make. They're great for weekend mornings, brunch gatherings, or even as a dessert bar.
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Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars Ingredients
Each ingredient plays an important role in creating that tender, fluffy texture and rich Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars flavor.
See Recipe Card Below This Post For ingredients Quantites
For the bars:
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the bars and keeps them soft and tender. This is your base ingredient.
- Baking powder: Helps the bars rise and stay fluffy. Works together with the baking soda for the perfect lift.
- Baking soda: Reacts with the sour cream to create extra rise and a soft crumb.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars flavor.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth to the Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars taste. Just a hint makes a big difference.
- Butter, softened: Adds richness and moisture. Make sure it's softened so it creams well with the sugars.
- Brown sugar: Brings moisture and a subtle caramel flavor that pairs beautifully with maple.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender texture.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add structure. They also contribute to the soft, cake-like texture.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances all the other flavors and adds a warm sweetness.
- Maple extract: This is where the real Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars flavor comes from. It's strong, so a little goes a long way.
- Sour cream: Keeps the bars incredibly moist and tender. It also adds a slight tang that balances the sweetness.
- Milk: Thins the batter just enough to pour and spread easily.
For the glaze:
- Powdered sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze that sets nicely on top.
- Butter, melted: Adds richness and helps the glaze stay glossy.
- Pure maple syrup: The real star of the glaze. Use pure syrup for the best flavor.
- Maple extract: Doubles down on that Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars taste.
- Milk: Adjusts the consistency so the glaze is smooth and pourable. Add it slowly until you get it just right.
how to make Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan well or line it with parchment paper so the bars lift out easily after baking.
Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until everything is evenly combined.
Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add wet ingredients: Mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars extract. Beat until everything is smooth and well combined.
Add sour cream and milk: Stir in the sour cream and milk until the mixture is fully incorporated and looks smooth.
Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Don't overmix or the bars will turn out dense.
Pour batter: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and use a spatula to spread it evenly into all the corners.
Bake: Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. The edges should look set and lightly golden.
Cool completely: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before you add the glaze. This is important so the glaze sets properly instead of just melting into the bars.
Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, maple syrup, and Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars extract until smooth.
Adjust consistency: Add the milk one tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition, until the glaze is smooth and pourable but not too runny. You want it to coat the back of a spoon.
Glaze the bars: Pour the glaze over the cooled bars and use a spatula to spread it evenly across the top. Let it set for about 15 to 20 minutes before cutting into squares or rectangles.
Substitutions and Variations
Dairy-free: Use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter, and swap the sour cream for dairy-free sour cream or plain coconut yogurt. Use almond milk or oat milk in place of regular milk.
Gluten-free: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. The texture might be slightly different, but it should still work well.
No maple extract: If you don't have Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars extract, you can leave it out and use extra vanilla extract instead. The bars will still taste great, just a bit less intensely maple-flavored.
Add-ins: Fold in chopped pecans or walnuts for a little crunch. You could also add mini chocolate chips if you want a fun twist.
Extra maple: Brush a thin layer of Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars syrup over the bars before adding the glaze for even more maple flavor.
Equipment for Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
- 9x13 inch pan: This is the perfect size for these bars. Metal or glass both work fine.
- Medium mixing bowl: For whisking together your dry ingredients.
- Large mixing bowl: For creaming the butter and sugars and mixing the wet ingredients.
- Electric mixer or hand mixer: Makes creaming the butter and sugars quick and easy.
- Whisk: For mixing the dry ingredients and making the glaze.
- Toothpick: To test if the bars are done baking.
Storage Tips
Room temperature: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They'll stay soft and moist.
Refrigerator: If you want them to last longer, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Freezer: You can freeze these bars for up to 2 months. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Glaze storage: If you're planning to store the bars for a while, you might want to add the glaze right before serving so it stays fresh and glossy.
expert tips
Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, sour cream, and milk are all at room temperature before you start. This helps everything mix together smoothly and creates a better texture.
Don't overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix just until you don't see any streaks of flour. Overmixing can make the bars dense and tough.
Cool completely before glazing: I know it's tempting to glaze them right away, but if the bars are even slightly warm, the glaze will melt and soak in instead of sitting on top in a pretty layer.
Use pure maple syrup: Pancake syrup won't give you the same rich flavor. Splurge on the real stuff for the glaze.
Check for doneness: Start checking at 20 minutes. You want the toothpick to come out clean or with just a few crumbs. Overbaking will dry them out.
Double the glaze: If you love a really thick layer of glaze, go ahead and make 1.5 times the glaze recipe. There's no such thing as too much maple glaze.
FAQ
What is a maple bar donut?
A maple bar donut is a long, rectangular Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars with a sweet maple glaze on top. It's soft, fluffy, and usually found at bakeries and donut shops. These bars capture that same flavor and texture but in an easy-to-bake form.
What is a maple bar donut called?
In some places, they're called maple bars or Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars long johns. The name can vary by region, but they all refer to the same delicious maple-glazed treat.
What is maple donut?
A maple donut is any Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars flavored with maple, either in the dough itself or in the glaze. The maple flavor is sweet, rich, and slightly caramel-like, making it a favorite for anyone who loves cozy, comforting flavors.
How do you store maple bars?
Store maple bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months. Just make sure they're completely cool before storing.
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Pairing
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Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan or line it with parchment paper. prep
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. mix
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and regular sugar until light and fluffy. mix
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and maple extract to the butter mixture, mixing well. mix
- Mix in the sour cream and milk until everything is well incorporated. mix
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. mix
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. assemble
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before glazing. bake
- To make the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, maple syrup, and maple extract in a bowl. mix
- Add milk gradually, one tablespoon at a time, until the glaze is smooth and pourable. mix
- Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bars, allowing it to set before cutting them into squares or rectangles. finish
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