Maple Bars

Maple bars have been on the dessert menu for a long while. They're my favorite type of donut, and the frosting is super easy to make. The doughnut recipe is from the mom-in-law and trust me, it's delicious! The maple recipe I've been using for years, and it's amazing!!! Trust me, it's TO. DIE. FOR. Happy baking everyone. :) 

Who needs pie cooling in the window when you can have donuts cooling in the window?? 

Raised Doughnuts (Heidi’s)

2 packages regular or quick-acting active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)

¼ cup warm water (105-115 degrees)

1 ½ cups lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/3 cup shortening 

5 cups all-purpose flour

Vegetable oil

Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 ½-quart bowl. Add milk, ½ cup sugar, the salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of flour. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl constantly 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally 2 minutes. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place until double 50-60 minutes. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)

Turn dough onto generously floured surface; roll it on lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough ½ inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double. (30-40 minutes)

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet to 380 degrees. Cook donuts in batches of 4-5 until golden brown. Flip donuts and repeat.

Source: Heidi Fairbanks (Not sure where she got it from)

Maple Frosting

¼ cup butter 

½ cup brown sugar

3 tbsp milk

1 tbsp corn syrup

2 tsp maple extract 

2-3 cups powdered sugar

In a small saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Whisk in milk and heat for about 5 minutes on medium heat, stirring often, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add in corn syrup and maple extract. Add in powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, whisking until smooth between additions. Add 1-2 more tsp of milk if necessary. Keep maple glaze warm on stove, whisking occasionally.

Source: https://butterwithasideofbread.com/easy-15-minute-maple-bars/