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Apple Pie Maple Donut Bar Recipe

A close-up of a single, square apple pie maple donut bars slice topped with cinnamon filling and white glaze.
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Create comforting, easy-to-serve dessert bars that combine the spiced filling of apple pie with a soft, maple-glazed donut texture. This recipe delivers homemade happiness in a simple pan format.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup diced, peeled apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (for glaze)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 2 tablespoons milk or cream (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix the batter.
  4. In a small bowl, toss the diced apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and cornstarch. This creates your spiced apple filling.
  5. Spread half of the donut batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  6. Spoon the apple mixture evenly over the batter layer.
  7. Carefully drop small spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the apple layer. Gently spread the top layer of batter to cover the apples as much as possible.
  8. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cakey part comes out clean.
  9. While the bars cool slightly, prepare the maple glaze. Whisk together the pure maple syrup, powdered sugar, and milk or cream until smooth.
  10. Once the bars are slightly warm (not hot), drizzle the maple glaze generously over the top.
  11. Let the glaze set before cutting the dessert into bars.

Notes

  • For the best apple pie flavor, use firm, tart apples like Granny Smith.
  • If you want a richer maple flavor, use dark amber or very dark strong taste maple syrup in the glaze.
  • You can add 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger to the apple mixture for extra spice.
  • This recipe works well as a sweet brunch idea or a holiday dessert bar.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://blissbatter.com/apple-pie-maple-donut-bars-recipe/