Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Donut Bars with Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Donut Bars with Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze
Ingredients
For the Donut Bars
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 tablespoon milk, 1 to 2 tablespoons, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
Melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan. Set aside to cool slightly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine the slightly cooled melted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Pour in the 1 cup of buttermilk and whisk again until the mixture is smooth.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until thoroughly combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until the batter is just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough donut bars.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Pour the prepared batter into the lined 8x8 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Bake the donut bars for 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350
- 9
Remove the donut bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before glazing. This will take at least 1 hour.
⏱️ 60 min
- 10
While the donut bars are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of unsalted butter over medium heat. Continue cooking the butter, stirring occasionally, until it turns a rich golden brown color and emits a nutty aroma. This usually takes 3-5 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Pour the warm brown butter directly into the bowl with the glaze ingredients. Whisk everything together until the glaze is smooth and uniform.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk, one tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition until the glaze reaches your desired pourable consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Once the donut bars are completely cool, pour the prepared glaze evenly over the top, spreading it with a spatula if needed.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Allow the glaze to set slightly (about 10-15 minutes) before slicing the donut bars and serving.
⏱️ 15 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Donut Bars with Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze
For the Donut Bars
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 tablespoon milk, 1 to 2 tablespoons, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
Melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan. Set aside to cool slightly.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine the slightly cooled melted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Pour in the 1 cup of buttermilk and whisk again until the mixture is smooth.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until thoroughly combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until the batter is just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough donut bars.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Pour the prepared batter into the lined 8x8 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Bake the donut bars for 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350 - 9
Remove the donut bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before glazing. This will take at least 1 hour.
⏱️ 60 min - 10
While the donut bars are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of unsalted butter over medium heat. Continue cooking the butter, stirring occasionally, until it turns a rich golden brown color and emits a nutty aroma. This usually takes 3-5 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Pour the warm brown butter directly into the bowl with the glaze ingredients. Whisk everything together until the glaze is smooth and uniform.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk, one tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition until the glaze reaches your desired pourable consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Once the donut bars are completely cool, pour the prepared glaze evenly over the top, spreading it with a spatula if needed.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Allow the glaze to set slightly (about 10-15 minutes) before slicing the donut bars and serving.
⏱️ 15 min