Easy Maple Bacon Baked Donuts Recipe
These Maple Donuts with Bacon are a tasty twist on two breakfast favorites: pancakes and bacon! Made with pancake mix, they’re quick to whip up and they’re topped with a homemade maple glaze and crispy bacon. Whether you’re looking for a weekend breakfast treat or something different to serve at brunch, these maple bacon donuts fit the bill.

Table of Contents
When my children were younger I made them a big breakfast every single day. They loved French Toast, sticky buns, pancakes and donuts but what they really loved was the combination of maple and bacon.
Over the years, I’ve come up with lots of recipes I knew they’d like, and this easy maple bacon donut recipe was always a hit. Using pancake mix for the base keeps the fluffy donuts simple, while the maple glaze and crispy bacon pieces give them a special touch.
These homemade maple bacon doughnuts work well beyond breakfast too. They’re great as an afternoon snack, a different kind of dessert, or part of a brunch spread. The sweet maple glaze and salty bacon combo makes these fresh donuts something to look forward to, and they’re popular with both kids and grown-ups.
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What Goes Into This Recipe

- Pancake Mix: Our shortcut ingredient that makes these donuts quick and easy to whip up. Any brand will work, so use your favorite.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a deeper, richer sweetness to both the donuts and the glaze. It complements the maple flavor perfectly.
- Milk: Helps create a smooth batter and keeps the homemade doughnuts moist. Whole milk works best, but any type you have on hand will do.
- Butter: Used in both the donuts and the glaze, it adds richness and helps create that classic donut texture.
- Maple Extract: This is our secret weapon for intense maple flavor in the glaze without making it too runny.
- Cooked Bacon: The salty, crispy topping that takes these donuts to the next level. Using pre-cooked bacon for the crispy bacon bits makes this recipe even easier, but you can also cut your bacon into pieces, cook it until crispy, and then remove it from the bacon grease with a slotted spoon and let it drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make Maple Bacon Baked Donuts
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the pancake mix and brown sugar. This step is super important because pancake mix can have huge lumps, and if you don’t get rid of them now, it’s nearly impossible later.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Add this mixture to your dry ingredients all at once. Stir the ingredients together until you have a smooth batter. At the end, add the melted butter and stir to combine.

- Transfer your batter to a large ziplock bag and snip off one corner. This makes filling the donut pans much easier and neater. You could also use a piping bag if you have one. Pipe the batter into your prepared donut pan. Be careful not to overfill – about 3/4 full is perfect. If you fill them too full, you’ll end up with more of a muffin because the donut hole disappears.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes. The best way to tell they’re done is to press down on the donut – when it bounces back, they’re ready. Be sure not to overbake, or they’ll be too dry. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack.

- While the donuts are baking, prepare the maple glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and brown sugar. Stir until the butter is melted and sugar is mostly dissolved. Remove from heat and add the remaining glaze ingredients. Whisk until everything is smooth. The mixture should be thick enough to stick to the donut but thin enough to dunk. You can adjust the consistency with more milk or powdered sugar if needed. Dip each donut into the glaze and pull it back out.
- While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle each donut with pieces of bacon. This is the best part! Press the bacon down slightly into the top of the glaze. Allow the glaze to set up on the cooling rack before serving. These donuts are best served warm and fresh, but can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Give the cooled donuts a drizzle of pure maple syrup if you’re feeling fancy for the perfect finishing touch!

Expert Tips
- Whisk the pancake mix and sugar together. This will get rid of any lumps before adding wet ingredients.
- Do not overfill the donut pan. Fill to about 3/4 full and then allow the donuts to rise as they bake.
- Adjust the glaze consistency as needed. If it’s too thick, add a bit more milk. If it’s too thin, mix in some extra powdered sugar.
- Use store bought cooked bacon for the top. If you don’t have time to cook bacon, this is the perfect way to make this easy recipe even easier.
- Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before turning them out. This helps them set up and makes them easier to remove.
Storage and Freezing
Store: These maple bacon donuts are best eaten fresh, but you can store leftover donuts for a short time. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you stack them, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Keep in mind that the bacon topping may lose some of its crispness over time.
Freeze: While fresh is best, you can freeze these donuts for up to 1 month. It’s better to freeze them unglazed and without bacon. Wrap each donut individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to eat, thaw at room temperature, then add the glaze and bacon topping just before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use a muffin tin instead. Line with paper liners and fill about 2/3 full. You might need to adjust the baking time slightly.
You can bake the donuts a day ahead, but it’s best to add the glaze and bacon just before serving for the best taste and texture.
Try topping with chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for a crunchy texture that goes well with the maple flavor.

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Easy Maple Bacon Baked Donuts
Ingredients
Pancake Donuts
- 2 cups pancake mix
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons butter {melted}
Maple Glaze
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar {packed}
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1 Tablespoon corn syrup
- 2 teaspoon maple extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Topping
- 4-6 slices bacon {cooked and sliced thinly}
Instructions
Pancake Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare the donut pan by spraying each donut ring generously with non stick spray, set aside.
- Measure the pancake mix and sugar into a medium bowl and whisk to remove any lumps. In a separate bowl combine the milk and egg, whisk together and add to dry ingredients. Stir ingredients together and at the end, add melted butter and stir.
- Fill the donut pan by either spooning mixture into rings or filling a zipper bag and piping the mixture into the pan. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for a couple of minutes and then turn the donuts out of the pan.
Maple Glaze
- While the donuts are baking, combine the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted and the sugar is mostly dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the remaining glaze ingredients, whisk until smooth. Then dip the baked donut tops into the glaze and set them on wax or parchment paper. Sprinkle with bacon slices and allow the glaze to set up.
- These pancake mix maple bacon donuts are best served immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Do not overfill the donut pan. Fill to about 3/4 full and then allow the donuts to rise as they bake.
- Use store bought cooked bacon for the top. If you don’t have time to cook bacon, this is the perfect way to make this easy recipe even easier.