There is something to say about starting the morning with something sweet and savory- specifically sweet maple and and crispy bacon! These baked Maple Bacon Donuts bring that classic flavor you love right to your own kitchen, without the fuss of frying. Each fluffy donut is infused with maple syrup, smoky bacon pieces, and finished with a silky maple icing (and of course topped with more bacon). Perfect for a cozy weekend brunch treat, these donuts hit that perfect balance of salty, sweet, and satisfying!
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray donut molds with nonstick spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, buttermilk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
⅓ cup maple syrup, ½ cup buttermilk , 2 tablespoon unsalted butter , 1 large egg , 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Add the bacon to the batter, folding gently until mixed in.
¼ cup bacon
Scoop this mixture into a piping/ziploc bag to pipe into the donut pan. You could also just spoon the batter into the pan if you prefer.
Fill the donut pan ½ full with batter. Don't overfill the donuts because they rise while baking. If you are using silicone donut molds, place them on a baking sheet before putting them into the oven.
Bake for 9-12 minutes until lightly golden brown on sides. Transfer the donut pan to a wire rack and allow the donuts to cool for about 5 minutes. Carefully take the donuts out of the pan and allow them to cool before icing.
Make the icing
In a medium bowl, melt the butter. Add in the maple syrup, powdered sugar, and vanilla, mixing until smooth. If icing is too thick, add more maple syrup or milk. If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar.
4 tablespoon unsalted butter, 2 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dip or drizzle donuts with glaze. Sprinkle the tops with the diced bacon. Allow the glaze to set before storing.
¼ cup bacon
Notes
make your own buttermilk by mixing ½ tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice with with whole milk (enough to make ½ cup of buttermilk for this recipe)
store in an airtight container for 1-2 days at room temperature, or 3-4 days in the fridge.