Description

Soft Baked Maple Donut Bars are a delightful treat combining the warm flavors of cinnamon and pure maple syrup with a tender, cake-like texture. These easy-to-make bars offer a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, ideal for breakfast or a comforting snack. Adaptable for vegan and gluten-free diets, they bake up soft and moist, reminiscent of classic donut favorites but in convenient bar form.

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)

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a square baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt to combine evenly.
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.
Add Eggs and Flavorings: 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.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
Bake the Bars: 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.
Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into squares. This helps maintain their soft texture and clean edges.

Notes

You can use gluten-free flour to make these bars gluten-free.
For a vegan version, substitute eggs with flax eggs, butter with plant-based butter, and milk with almond milk.
Do not overmix the batter to ensure the bars remain tender and soft.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
These bars can be lightly warmed before serving to enhance the maple aroma.