Flapjack

Name: Flapjack
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 36
Ingredients: Rolled oats 4.7 cups; Golden syrup 0.3 cup; Whole cane sugar 0.625 cup; Butter 4.5 oz; Dark chocolate chips 3.5 oz; Fine salt 1 pinch; Butter to taste

it es fr de br

Gluten Free
Vegetarian

Difficulty: Very easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Makes: 36 pieces
Cost: Very low

PRESENTATION

Alright, so flapjack. We're not talking about those American pancakes here. Over in England, it's something else entirely. Really, it's basically a chewy oat bar that's been around forever. Folks love it for that tender, chewy goodness you get from the oats mixed with golden syrup. And here's the deal—the golden syrup is what sets a flapjack recipe apart. It’s not your regular syrup; it’s got this rich, kinda toffee-like flavor. Really hits different, you know? You mix that syrup with butter and sugar, heat it till it's gooey and smooth, then throw in rolled oats before pressing it all into a pan to bake.

Once it's ready, you get these golden, slightly crisp bars. Perfect for snacking. Some folks like to add chocolate chips or dried fruit, and there's a ton of variations—spices, lemon zest, apples, mixed nuts—whatever’s in the cupboard. Unlike American pancakes or other easy pancake recipe ideas, homemade flapjacks have that comforting, simple vibe. No fussing with flipping or making them fluffy like buttermilk pancakes. It's all about that home-baked, keep-in-a-tin snack to grab with a cup of tea.

In England, having a sweet, buttery flapjack with some strong, aromatic tea is pretty much the norm. Especially in the afternoon when you need something to go with your drink. And a batch of homemade flapjacks? It goes a long way. It's no wonder folks like to experiment with the recipe. Whether you toss in extra chocolate chips for that super gooeyness or sprinkle some cinnamon, it's really really hard to mess this up. Plus, if you’re into breakfast recipes or want new ideas for pancake toppings, you can get creative with what you mix in or drizzle on top. It's the kind of snack that feels super homemade and warm, just right when you want something not too fussy. Seriously good treat.

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for 36 pieces: Rolled oats 4.7 cups (400 g); Golden syrup 0.3 cup (125 g); Whole cane sugar 0.625 cup (125 g); Butter 4.5 oz (125 g); Dark chocolate chips 3.5 oz (100 g); Fine salt 1 pinch

For greasing the pan: Butter to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Flapjack

To prepare the flapjack, put the butter cut into pieces, brown sugar 1, salt, and golden syrup 2 in a large pan and heat everything over low heat (without bringing to a boil), stirring with a spoon 3, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once you have a mixture with an amber color and fairly liquid consistency, turn off the heat and let it cool. If you can't find golden syrup, you can use the same amount of maple syrup or acacia honey, although the result will not be optimal.

In a large bowl, pour the oat flakes and add the syrup mixture prepared earlier 4. Mix well so that the oat flakes absorb the syrup, resulting in a moist and sticky mixture. Finally, add the chocolate chips 5. Now prepare the tray: take a rectangular tray measuring 8 inches wide x 12 inches long and 1 inch in height, butter the bottom and sides using a kitchen brush 6 or simply with your hands (in this way the parchment paper will adhere better).

Cut a piece of parchment paper 10 inches x 14 inches so that it can completely line the inside of the pan, and make it adhere to the bottom and sides without creating folds 7. Pour the obtained mixture into the pan 8, taking care to press it well and flatten the surface with the help of a spatula 9, then bake in a preheated static oven at 300°F for about 40 minutes (or in a convection oven at 265°F for 30 minutes).

When the surface is golden brown, remove the pan from the oven, let it cool for 15-20 minutes, then remove the mixture from the pan, place it on a cutting board 10, and cut it into rectangles of 2.75 inches x 1 inch (11-12). The flapjacks are ready to be enjoyed!

Storage

You can store flapjacks in a tin box for a week. Freezing is not recommended.

Curiosity

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term flapjack was used starting from the 17th century, initially to refer to a dessert similar to pancakes, a meaning it still holds in the United States. However, from the 1930s, the name flapjack started being used to describe an oat-based dessert. The etymology of the term flapjack is unclear, with the word being composed of the verb 'flap,' meaning to agitate as in flipping (related to the action of flipping a pancake during cooking), and 'jack,' a name of which the meaning in this specific context is unknown.

Tip

The truly indulgent ones, those who do not fear a chocolate overdose, could (hypothetically speaking) cover the flapjack with dark chocolate melted in a bain-marie, let it cool, and only then cut the rectangles. Hypothetically, of course...

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.