Description
These Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Donut Bars are a nostalgic treat featuring a tender, cakey base spiced with nutmeg and topped with a rich brown butter maple vanilla bean glaze. Perfectly soft and bursting with classic donut-shop flavors, these bars are an easy-to-make dessert that combines the best of cake and donut worlds in one pan.
Ingredients
Scale
Donut Bars
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup buttermilk
Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
- 1–2 tbsp milk (for thinning, as needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Then, add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Add the Buttermilk and Dry Ingredients: Alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and buttermilk into the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently just until combined to avoid overmixing and developing toughness.
- Bake the Donut Bars: Pour and spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely before glazing.
- Make the Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, cooking it until it turns golden brown and emits a nutty aroma. Immediately remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla bean paste. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk to achieve desired glaze consistency.
- Glaze the Bars: Pour the warm glaze evenly over the cooled donut bars. Let the glaze set for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing into generous rectangles or smaller pieces as desired.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened, not melted, for creaming to achieve the ideal texture.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding dry ingredients to keep the bars tender.
- The nutmeg adds a classic donut-shop aroma—do not omit.
- Watch the butter closely when browning to prevent burning the glaze.
- If the glaze is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time to thin it.
- These bars are best served at room temperature after the glaze sets.
- You can store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (assuming 16 bars)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: buttermilk donut bars, old-fashioned donut bars, brown butter glaze, maple glaze, vanilla bean glaze, easy baked donuts, classic donut recipe
