Description
Classic British Flapjacks are chewy, buttery oat bars sweetened with golden syrup and brown sugar, offering a rich caramel-like flavor. Unlike American pancakes, these flapjacks are baked treats perfect for tea time, lunchboxes, or quick snacks. With just 5 ingredients, they’re simple, traditional, and endlessly adaptable with fruit, nuts, or chocolate.
Ingredients
½ cup salted butter (1 stick, cubed)
½ cup brown sugar (packed)
5 tablespoons golden syrup (or dark corn syrup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2⅓ cups quick-cooking oats
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C), ensuring the fan/convection setting is off. Grease and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add brown sugar, golden syrup, and vanilla. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture looks like caramel.
- Remove from heat and stir in oats until fully coated.
- Spread mixture evenly into the prepared pan, pressing down with the back of a spoon or spatula.
- Bake 20–30 minutes, depending on preference: 20 minutes for chewy flapjacks, 30 minutes for a crisper version.
- Let cool completely before slicing into squares or bars. Flapjacks will firm up as they cool.
Notes
- Press the mixture firmly into the pan to prevent crumbling.
- Cool completely before slicing for neat squares.
- Golden syrup provides the best flavor but can be swapped with honey or corn syrup.
- Pulsing old-fashioned oats in a food processor will give a finer texture similar to quick oats.
- Add chocolate drizzle, dried fruit, or nuts for extra variety.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
