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Baked Pumpkin Maple Bars

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Baked Pumpkin Maple Bars provide everything you have been craving about doughnuts, without all of the guilt. Pumpkin gives them an extra moist texture and maple makes them perfectly sweet! They definitely hit the spot on a cool fall morning!

Tastes exactly like from the doughnut shop! No guilt!

I have been craving doughnuts ever since July when we were staying in Utah for a family reunion. There happened to be a Krispy Kreme shop right next to our hotel. I scoped it out from the first second that we drove in. I’m not a huge fan of continental breakfast since I’m really picky about certain things. I knew I wanted to go get a doughnut for breakfast at least one of the days we were there, probably both days though! I tried to talk my 13 year old into jogging to the doughnut shop with me. No deal. I tried to talk my sister into walking over there with me. No deal. I tried talking my husband into driving me over there. No deal. Since I don’t like to go anywhere by myself I resorted to the chocolates I was hiding in my purse. It was a pretty good breakfast but I was still thinking of Krispy Kremes.

Gooooo Broncos!

A few weeks ago we went to a Boise State football game. We stopped to get gas before leaving town. Thank goodness the gas station was also a satellite store for Krispy Kremes. I had been craving these doughnuts for 3 long months and I wasn’t about to let them get away this time. So I told Justin, I will get doughnuts, you get gas. Much to my disappointment I learned that all of the good doughnuts are long gone before noon. We were stuck with the last few glazed doughnuts. So I got my doughnuts, just not the kind I wanted.

I had no idea that they sell Cougar Tales, foot long maple bars, at BYU football games. (Yes it was an embarrassing game. No more about that. We are talking about doughnuts here.) Once again I couldn’t help myself and ate almost the entire thing! I don’t know why I keep doing things like that. Trust me, it’s wrong to eat a food long maple bar and a glazed doughnut within a twelve hour period!

After we found our seats I had to get up and wander around before the game started. I think I drive Justin crazy like that. Remember I don’t like to go anywhere by myself so I dragged him up and down the stairs and all around the stadium. It’s not my fault…I just can’t sit still. It was worth it this time because we found Buster and I got my picture with him!

Pumpkin Bread Dough

On to the doughnuts. Even after I got home I was still thinking about Maple Bars, so I decided to incorporate baking them and pumpkin. It turned out to be a successful experiment!

Dissolve yeast and 1 T sugar in warm water. Let get bubbly, it takes about 5 minutes. Add beaten egg, pumpkin, brown sugar and butter. Stir all of that together.

Pumpkin Doughnuts

Measure 4 cups flour and salt in a sifter, or separate bowl. Using dough hooks start mixing dough together. Gradually add more flour until dough begins to pull away from the mixing bow. I added another cup, making 5 cups of flour total.

Cover and let rise until doubled, about and hour.

Baked Pumpkin Maple Bars

Once the dough has risen roll it out on a floured surface. I used a piece of canvas that my mother in law gave to me. It works like a charm. It’s the simple things in life!

Mine was about 14″ x 10″. If you want to be fancy you can trim the edges off so it’s a perfect rectangle. The rounded edges taste fine to me so I left them. Besides, I was after a rustic look!

Cut the bars into 2″ x 5″ pieces.

Pumpkin Maple Bars

Transfer cut bars to a greased baking sheet. I know this isn’t a baking sheet. I was trying something but the baking sheet worked better. So I would go with that.

Let rise for about 30 minutes.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

Homemade Pumpkin Maple Bars! All the goodness of homemade doughnuts without the extra work or calories!

Make a maple glaze by adding powdered sugar, salt, evaporated milk and maple extract to a mixing bowl. Stir. Add powdered sugar to thicken or milk to thin until desired consistency is reached.

Baked Pumpkin Maple Bars!

Frost cooled bars with maple icing!

These maple bars really were so yummy. I tried to convince myself not to have one until my family came home that night. I had one little bite, just to make sure it was good.  And that was the end of that maple bar!

Baked Pumpkin Maple Bars
 
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Baked Pumpkin Maple Bars provide everything you have been craving about doughnuts, without all of the guilt. Pumpkin gives them an extra moist texture and maple makes them perfectly sweet! They definitely hit the spot on a cool fall morning!
Author:
Recipe type: Doughnuts
Cuisine: American
Serves: 14
Ingredients
  • Pumpkin Bars:
  • ¼ c. warm water
  • 1 T. sugar
  • 1 T. yeast
  • ½ c. brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup butter, softened
  • 1½ c. pumpkin puree
  • 5 c. flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • Maple Icing:
  • 3 c. powdered sugar
  • dash salt
  • 1 tsp. maple extract
  • evaporated milk (about 3-4 T.)
Instructions
  1. Add water, yeast and 1 Tablespoon of sugar to a large mixing bowl.Let sit until bubbly, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add pumpkin, butter, brown sugar and eggs to the yeast mixture. Gently stir.
  3. Measure 4 cups of flour and salt in a sifter or separate bowl. Sift, or pour, into wet ingredients. Use electric mixer and dough hooks to mix together. Gradually add more flour as needed. You want the dough to begin to pull away from the bowl. I ended up using about 5 cups of flour total. Let mixer kneed dough for 5 minutes.
  4. Cover and let dough rise until doubled, about an hour.
  5. Roll dough out into a 14" x 10" rectangle. Cut bars into 2" x 5" pieces.
  6. Transfer bars to a greased baking sheet. Let rise about 20-30 minutes.
  7. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.
  8. Cool and frost with Maple Icing.
  9. MAPLE ICING:
  10. Mix powdered sugar, salt, maple extract and a little bit of evaporated milk together. I always start with just a little milk and gradually add more until I reach desired spreading consistency.

 

 

 

 

 

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  1. You got your picture with Buster? I’m jealous!!

    I have been thinking about these since you told me you were making them. I can’t wait to make them, they just might be what my stake presidency gets!

    Reply

  4. Amy, I have to try these! We call this kind of donut Long John’s (is that normal or totally weird?) and they are my very very favorite! But I’ve never made them from scratch! Pinning to try, I can’t wait!! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    • I have heard of maple bars being referred to as Long John’s. At my house long johns are the warm thermal that my boys wear under their clothes to keep warm in the winter! How funny! Hope you enjoy the recipe!!

      Reply

    • He’s technically not 13 until December. But he acts like he’s about 18! I couldn’t believe I got to take a picture with Buster! So fun! You should come see us if you are here during the Holidays!

      Reply

  10. So glad you bought a Cougar Tail– super yummy! These look great too! I’ll have to try them, since I’m a total sucker for donuts!!! (seriously, I could have had TWO that night:):)) Forget Birthday cake, bring on the donuts!

    Reply

  15. I am seriously going to give these a try! I’m super excited they are baked..not for my extra pot holes going in my muffin tops, but because I do not like the smell of the grease in the house lingering. LOVE pumpkin anything…I think I’m a little over obsessed. Simply can’t get enough! Pinning and also printing off the recipe. Wanted to also tell you thank you for sharing this recipe with all of us at the Show Stopper Saturday party, Amy! (=

    Reply

    • I feel exactly the same way about frying foods in grease! I can’t stand it when my house, my hair and clothes smell like grease. We only fry in the summer when we can do it outside! Enjoy!

      Reply

    • I don’t really track nutritional facts. This recipe has also been posted on a site call My Recipe Magic and they post nutritional information. You can check it out there!

      Reply

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