By: Jill Mills Posted: Sep 15, 2025

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Soft, fluffy fried donuts are topped with a sweet maple icing in this Maple Bars recipe. With a canned biscuit dough base, they are quick and easy to make. Enjoy for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

These maple bars might be the easiest homemade donuts you ever make! Like my apple donuts and pumpkin donuts, they’re perfect for fall. But they start with a canned biscuit base and are oblong instead of round so they’re even easier to make. There’s no need for a special donut mold or to fuss with getting the shape just right. Plus they’re super yummy!

Why This Maple Bars Recipe Is A Fall Favorite

Breakfast or dessert. Maple bars work as a sweet breakfast to enjoy with a cup of coffee or as a sweet dessert. We often enjoy the doughnuts for both!
The maple glaze! The frosting is really the star of this recipe. It’s rich and sweet with lots of maple flavor.
Easy to make. The base of these maple bar donuts is actually Pillsbury biscuits! There’s no need to worry about making dough so they come together so quickly. It takes less than 2 minutes for each one to fry so fresh, warm maple bars can be on the table in under 30 minutes.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make maple bars

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of what’s needed to make this maple bar donut recipe. The donut base requires just 2 ingredients! Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Ingredients for Donut Base:

Biscuits – Other biscuits may work, but I’ve only tried this recipe with Original Pillsbury Grand Homestyle Buttermilk biscuits.
Canola oil – Or other neutral oil for frying, like peanut oil, vegetable oil or even avocado oil.

Ingredients for Maple Frosting:

Brown sugar – Dark or light brown sugar both work. Dark brown sugar will provide a richer flavor.
Butter – I only use unsalted butter for these as the biscuit dough already has salt in it.
Milk – Regular milk, almond, and soy milk all work.
Light corn syrup – Keeps the frosting shiny and spreadable.
Maple flavor extract – Adds the maple flavor in the maple bar donuts.
Powdered sugar – The base of the frosting.

How To Make Maple Bars

Maple bar donuts are so quick and easy to make. They’re best enjoyed fresh so I love to make these right before breakfast to enjoy with coffee or dinner to enjoy with dessert. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Shaping biscuit dough into oblong donuts

Whisking powdered sugar into melted brown sugar and butter

Shape the bars. Gently press and stretch each biscuit into an oblong shape.
Make the frosting. Combine the brown sugar and milk in a saucepan. Add the butter and turn to the heat to medium. Stir frequently until the butter is melted and the sugar is fully dissolved. Whisk in the corn syrup and maple extract. Add 1/2 cup of powdered sugar at a time, whisking each one until all lumps are dissolved and the glaze is smooth. Turn the heat to low.

Fry the donuts. Heat the canola oil to 350F in a saucepan. Fry 1-2 biscuits at a time. Cook for 30 seconds to 2 minutes then flip and cook the other side until the entire biscuit is light brown. Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and repeat with the remaining biscuits.
Add the glaze. Remove the paper towels from the baking sheet then remove the glaze from the stovetop and whisk vigorously until smooth. Dip each donut into the glaze, let the excess drip of, and place on the baking sheet to cool. Repeat with the remaining bars.

Overhead view of maple bars on parchment paper

Tips & Tricks

While this maple bars recipe is super easy, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Sift the powdered sugar. I highly recommend sifting the powdered sugar before adding it to the glaze. It cuts down on the amount of whisking time you need to dissolve all the lumps.
Don’t have a thermometer? No problem! You can also dip a wooden spoon into the oil and if it’s starting to gently bubble from the bottom, your oil is hot enough. If it bubbles aggressively, it’s likely too hot and the biscuits will brown too fast.
Maintain the oil temperature. It is challenging to maintain the proper oil temperature while frying. It’s normal for the temperature to decrease when adding food. I recommend checking the temperature between batches and giving it a second to rise if needed.
Fry time varies. The amount of time the biscuits need to cook varies based on the oil temperature. It’s best to use your sight more than a specific time. When the bottom of the biscuit is light golden, flip it and do the same for the other side.

Maple bar donuts on parchment paper, one with a bite missing

Proper Storage

Maple bars are at their best within hours of making them. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container or Ziplock bag on the counter. They taste the best when enjoyed within 1-2 days.

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Maple Bars

Soft, fluffy fried donuts are topped with a sweet maple frosting in this Maple Bars recipe. With a canned biscuit dough base, they are quick and easy to make. Enjoy for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Servings: 8 bars

Prep: 5

Cook: 16

Total: 21

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Ingredients

Donuts

▢ 1 8-count tube Original Pillsbury Grand Homestyle Buttermilk biscuits
▢ 4 cups Canola Oil for frying

Maple Frosting

▢ ½ brown sugar light or dark
▢ 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
▢ 3 Tablespoons milk
▢ 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
▢ 2 teaspoons Maple Flavor Extract
▢ 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Remove the individual biscuits from the tube and gently press and stretch them into an oblong shape, similar to a Long John.
In a small saucepan, add the brown sugar and milk, whisk to combine.
Add the butter and heat over medium and stir frequently until the butter is melted and the sugar is fully dissolved.
Add in the corn syrup and maple extract and whisk to combine.
Whisk in the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time making sure that the lumps are dissolved and the glaze is smooth before adding each ½ cup.
Once all the glaze is completely smooth, turn the heat down to low while you prepare the donuts.
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with paper towels.
Add the canola oil to a medium saucepan and heat until the temperature reaches 350 degrees. You can check this by using a meat or candy thermometer.
Add the biscuits one at a time (or two if your pan can fit them) and allow them to fry for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before flipping. Then fry for another 30 seconds to 2 minutes until both sides are light golden brown. (While the biscuit is cooking, continue to monitor the temperature and try to maintain 350 degrees. It’s normal for the temperature to slightly decrease when adding food.)
Remove the biscuit from the oil and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat the process with the remaining biscuits. Allow the biscuits to cool slightly so you can safely handle them.
Remove the paper towels from the baking sheet and prepare to glaze.
Remove the glaze from heat and whisk vigorously to smooth it out.
Dip each bar in the glaze, allow the excess to drip off, then place the bar on the baking sheet to cool. Repeat with the remaining bars.
These are delicious and at their best within hours of making them. However, you can store them in a Ziplock bag or airtight container on the counter for two days.

Last Step:

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Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to 1-2 days.

Nutrition

Maple Bars

Why This Maple Bars Recipe Is A Fall Favorite