Old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars
Old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars bring back memories that are hard to shake. Just speaking the phrase makes me think of warm mornings at my grandma’s farmhouse, where the smell of frying dough would fill the kitchen before the sun came up. She thought weekends were for relaxing, getting the family together around the kitchen table, and enjoying simple things like homemade donuts, especially the sort that were fresh and dripping with a rich glaze, ready to be eaten with a hot cup of coffee or milk.
These donut bars are a nod to that age-old custom. The buttermilk gives them a soft crumb, and the maple vanilla bean glaze with the deep, nutty brown butter makes them even more delicious. This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a call to stop what you’re doing, make something special, and make memories that will remain long after the last crumb is gone. These old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars are sure to become a favorite in your baking arsenal, whether you’re cooking them for a holiday breakfast, a weekend brunch, or just because.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars are the perfect mix of comfort food and fancy flavor. The buttermilk makes the bars soft and moist, and the brown butter glaze gives them a rich, nuanced flavor that tastes like caramel. Also, baking them as bars instead of frying each donut makes them easier and less messy—no need for a deep fryer.
You can share them at family brunches, give them to neighbors, or enjoy them with your morning coffee. You’ll see why they have a regular place in our weekend rotation after you try them.
For the Donut Bars:
- 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- ½ tsp of ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ½ cup of softened butter without salt
- ¾ cup of sugar in granules
- Two big eggs
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- ¾ cup of buttermilk
To make the Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Bean Glaze:
- ½ cup of butter without salt
- 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp of vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons of milk (to thin it out if needed)
How to Make Donut Bars with Old-Fashioned Buttermilk
You might not realize it, but making old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars is easy. You may enjoy a batch of golden, glazed bars by following these easy instructions.
- Get the oven and pan ready.
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use parchment paper or grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. I recall seeing my grandma gently grease every corner of the pan so that nothing stuck. It’s worth the extra time. - Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium basin, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt with a whisk. The nutmeg is the most important part since it gives these old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars the smell of a donut store. - Mix the butter and sugar together.
In a big bowl, mix the softened butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy. This stage makes the texture soft and cake-like. Add the eggs one at a time, and mix well after each one. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. - Put in the buttermilk and the dry ingredients.
Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the butter mixture in turns, starting and finishing with the flour. Mix just until everything is mixed together. If you mix too much, your bars could be very dense. - Donut Bars should be baked.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean. Before glazing, let the bars cool all the way down. - Make the glaze with brown butter, maple syrup, and vanilla beans.
Put the butter in a small pot and heat it over medium heat until it melts. Keep heating it until it gets golden brown and smells nutty. Keep an eye on it since it can burn rapidly. Take it off the fire and mix in the powdered sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla bean paste with a whisk. If the glaze is too thick, add a little milk. - Put a glaze on the bars
Spread the heated glaze evenly over the cooled bars. Before cutting, give the glaze time to harden for 10 to 15 minutes. I like to cut these into big rectangles, as my grandma did, but if you’re serving a lot of people, you may cut them smaller.
Useful Advice
- Don’t leave off the nutmeg; it’s what gives the dish its real old-fashioned taste.
- For a smoother batter and consistent baking, use components that are at room temperature.
- Carefully brown the butter by stirring it regularly and taking it off the stove as soon as it smells nutty and turns golden.
- Sprinkle chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts over the glaze before it sets if you want it to have more texture.
Information
- Time to prepare: 20 minutes
- Time to Cook: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Makes 12 bars
- Type: Dessert
- How to do it: Baking
- Food: American
- Vegetarian diet
Notes
These old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars taste best the day they are made, but if you store them correctly, they will stay good for a few days. You can also freeze them without the glaze and frost them when you’re ready to serve.
Nutritional Information (around one bar)
- Three hundred twenty calories
- 18g of fat
- 38 grams of carbs
- 4g of protein
- 24g of sugar
Questions that come up often
Can I do these ahead of time?
Yes! The day prior, bake the bars and keep them covered. For the greatest texture, add the glaze right before serving.
Is it okay to use Greek yogurt instead of buttermilk?
You can use plain Greek yogurt blended with a little milk instead, but the taste and texture will be a little different.
How can I tell when the brown butter is done?
It will smell like nuts and turn golden, with little brown flecks at the bottom of the pan. Make careful to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
How to Store
You may keep the glazed donut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you want to keep the bars for a long time, freeze them without the glaze. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them and glaze them.
These old-fashioned buttermilk donut bars with a glaze made of brown butter, maple, and vanilla bean are the kind of food that makes your heart feel warm and your home smell good. These bars guarantee to bring you delight with every mouthful, whether you’re bringing back an old family tradition or starting a new one on the weekends. So get your ingredients together, take a little time, and let the magic of baking from scratch make your table feel better.