Maple frosting is a popular coating for donuts. Particularly, if you live on the West Coast, you must’ve tried so-called maple bars. Maple bars are donuts that are covered in maple frosting, which gives them a rich and juicy taste. Although it’s commonly combined with maple bars, you can use maple frosting for any type of donut, including the donut holes. The best part is, that it’s not even hard to make so if you’re making donuts and can’t decide which frosting you should use, read our step-by-step guide on making maple frosting for donuts.
The History of Maple Frosting for Donuts
As mentioned earlier, maple bars refer to a special type of donut which is long in shape and made out of raised-yeast dough. It was inspired by the éclair sweet, but thanks to the maple frosting it has an entirely different taste compared to its European counterpart with chocolate glazes.
It is said that the Maple bar originally came from the West Coast. Many people argue exactly where from, but rumors have it that it originally came from California, as a lot of donut shops in Los Angeles served exactly this treatment, according to a report.
That being said, whenever someone goes on a trip to California or the west coast, in particular, having a maple bar is an unavoidable voyage. The rectangle-shaped bar is tasty and chewy, and even better when served with the maple frosting.
You guessed it right, the maple frosting is made out of maple syrup which originally comes from Canada. It was used by the indigenous people in America, according to a report, but as European settlers made their way across North America, they adopted the maple syrup treat and used their own production methods to make it meet their needs.
Maple syrup is commonly used for pancakes, but you’d be surprised to know how tasty the maple glaze for donuts is. Sometimes, these donuts are served with bacon, according to Wikipedia, and although we agree that this is a bit weird way to serve donuts, we must admit that it’s creative and gives extra aroma to the overall dish.
Making maple frosting is quite easy and fast, whether you plan to make maple bars or some other types of donuts, you can make the frosting swiftly, while the dough is rising or baking.
Ingredients Needed for the Maple Frosting
- ¼ cup of butter
- 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar
- ½ cup of maple syrup (you should use the pure maple syrup but it’s not a must)
- ½ teaspoon of maple extract
- A pinch of brown sugar
Tools:
- A whisk or a high-speed hand mixer
- A saucepan
- A sugar strainer
Step By Step on How to Make Maple Frosting for Donuts
Step 1: Melt the Butter
Put the butter in the small saucepan and melt it on medium fire. It’d be best if you’d use unsalted butter, as they’d keep the frosting taste neutral. The one with salt won’t do anything wrong to your frosting or donuts, but it may give it a salty taste and ruin the aroma. Don’t forget to stir occasionally so that the melted butter wouldn’t burn into the surface of the pan.
Step 2: Add the Powdered Sugar
After the butter had melted, it’s time to remove it from the heat and carefully add the powdered sugar into the melted butter. Sugar is the only dry ingredient in this mix. It’d be really good if you had a strainer that’d allow you to carefully and slowly add the sugar so that the mix would be uniform as you whisk it quickly.
It’s very important to add the sugar slowly, and a strainer would ensure that the sugar is coming down as you’re swiftly whisking the butter and sugar, giving it the appearance of frosting. Once all the sugar was dusted into the pan, whisk vigorously until you get a creamy texture.
Step 3: Add the Maple Syrup
It’s time to add the maple syrup into the mix and continue whisking and watching the creamy texture form. It’d be even better if you could add an additional maple syrup extract for a deeper and richer taste. Continue whisking until the syrup was absorbed by the mix. Finally, try it out with a spoon to ensure that the taste is right and you don’t need to add anything else.
Step 4: Let it Cool
Before putting the batter on your donuts, it’d be best to let it cool in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes. That way, the donuts you want to coat with frosting will also cool down and you’ll get a more lasting taste.
Tips for Making the Maple Frosting for Donuts
Your maple frosting will taste great with the donut recipe of your choice, but one of the best recipes to try it out is with the spice-flavored donuts that are baked. Whether you opt for the nutmeg cloves or cinnamon as the main spices, you won’t make a mistake.
Another mistake that many cooks make when making the maple frosting for donuts is that they use breakfast syrup for the frosting or commercial syrup. If you want a richer and deeper taste, you’ll need to get pure dark maple syrup. It’s a bit pricier, but we guarantee that it’ll be much tastier.
Lastly, the frosting will be best applied to the donuts if you wait for the freshly baked donuts to completely cool off in the oven. Otherwise, the frosting may spread too much and lose its texture. Make sure to cool both in the fridge so that they lump together nicely once you add the frosting. Don’t forget the sprinkles for extra décor.
Conclusion
Maple frosting for donuts is an ideal treat that goes well with any type of donuts. Whether you’re making the maple bars or regular donuts, you’re going to enjoy it. The best part is that you can make it before your donuts are done baking or frying, and if you let them cool, they’ll taste even better. Let us know in the comments did you make the maple frosting yet? How did your donuts taste and what is your favorite donut glaze?
FAQ
Is Maple Frosting Vegan?
The maple frosting we made is not vegan because it contains butter, and butter is a dairy product. However, you can easily swap it for some vegan shortening like coconut shortening. It may take a little longer to melt, but the taste will be even richer.
Keep in mind that some shortening options are also made from dairy products, so it’s important to explicitly look for vegan shortening. Whether you’re aiming for gluten-free or regular donuts, the coconut shortening will enhance your taste and add more flavor to the overall dessert.
How Many Calories Are in Maple Frosting Donut?
The calorie count in individual maple frosting donuts depends on what recipe you used, including the recipe you used to make the donuts. Also, it depends on the serving size, some donut molds are smaller than the others while some other people prefer frying a bit bigger donuts than the regular.
Let’s take Dunkin Donuts maple frosting donuts for example. One donut contains roughly about 270 calories. According to this report, more than 50% of the nutrients come from fats, while about 46% are attributed to carbs.
This is probably higher than the donuts you’ll make at home, but keep in mind that you shouldn’t take more than one donut if you’re trying to lose weight. About 270 calories can be enough to satisfy your hunger, but keep in mind that this meal is not as rich in nutrients as other snacks you should consider.
Another popular donut variant with maple frosting, Maple bar, has an even higher calorie count. According to Carb Manager, one maple bar contains 340 calories, which can be enough for a breakfast meal.
Understandably, the homemade donuts with maple frosting will have fewer calories, but keep in mind that this high-caloric treat is not the healthiest option for people who want to maintain or lose weight.
How to Preserve the Maple Frosting for Donuts?
If you intend to keep your frosting at room temperature, it won’t last more than 2 to 3 days. However, if you intend to refrigerate it, it can last as many as seven days, which is good if you plan to make donuts multiple times or you simply want to preserve the frosting for some other occasion.
The maple frosting that has already been applied to donuts can last about 2 to 3 days. However, if you refrigerate the donuts, they are also as good for 7 days if the temperature is right. Keep in mind that during the summer months, food gets spoiled easier.
You can keep your frosting in a vacuum-insulated bowl so that it can keep its freshness. Nevertheless, if you don’t have one, you can cover it with plastic wrap or keep it inside a ziplock bag.
Although the frosting doesn’t have any eggs in it, butter is a dairy product that can easily get spoiled after a few days at room temperature.
