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Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars

Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars
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Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars are a tender, melt-in-your-mouth treat infused with rich, authentic maple flavor. Combining the nostalgic taste of classic donuts with the convenience of bar baking, these bars are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. Featuring a soft crumb and subtle warmth from cinnamon, they offer a comforting, sweet experience suitable for sharing or indulging solo.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or plant-based butter for vegan version)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (or 2 flax eggs for vegan version)
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk (or almond milk for vegan version)

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Pan and Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a square baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt to combine evenly.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key to achieving the bars’ soft texture.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and pure maple syrup. Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until the batter is smooth but not overworked.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
  5. Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into squares.

Notes

  • Use pure maple syrup, not maple-flavored syrup, for authentic taste.
  • Do not overblend the batter to maintain a soft texture.
  • Use room temperature ingredients (eggs, butter, milk) for a smooth batter and even baking.
  • Check your oven temperature with a thermometer to prevent overbaking.
  • Allow bars to cool fully before slicing for clean pieces.

Nutrition

Keywords: maple, donut bars, baked bars, soft texture, maple syrup, cinnamon, breakfast, snack, dessert, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://gourmetglazing.com/soft-baked-maple-donut-bars/