Maple Donut Bars (Printable)
Pillowy bars with a rich maple glaze deliver soft, sweet indulgence ideal for breakfast or snacks.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
06 - 1/4 cup water, warmed
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - Vegetable oil for frying
→ Maple Glaze
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
12 - 3 tablespoons whole milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
# How-to Steps:
01 - Combine warm milk, water, and yeast in a large bowl or stand mixer. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until combined.
03 - Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours until doubled in size.
05 - Punch down dough and roll out to 1/2-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 4x1.5-inch bars using a sharp knife or dough cutter.
06 - Place bars on parchment-lined baking sheets. Cover and let rise for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
07 - Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F.
08 - Fry bars in batches for 1–2 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
10 - While bars are still slightly warm, dip tops into the glaze and set on a wire rack to set.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- These bars give you all the satisfaction of yeast donuts without the hassle of cutting out perfect circles
- The real maple glaze creates that bakery style crackle that makes them impossible to resist
02 -
- The oil temperature matters more than you think because too hot burns the outside while too cold makes them greasy
- Glazing while the bars are still slightly warm helps the coating adhere better and creates that signature crackle
03 -
- Use real maple syrup not pancake syrup or the flavor will be disappointingly flat and artificial tasting
- A dough scraper makes cutting even rectangles so much easier than using a knife alone