
The other day I was talking to an American friend about how I wanted to make flapjacks. We went out to buy the ingredients at the supermarket together and she was very confused as to why I was buying porridge oats. As it turns out, flapjacks are a completely different thing in the United States from what we have in the United Kingdom. In fact, if an American person talks about a flapjack, they will usually be describing a pancake. I spoke to some of my French friends about flapjacks too, and they haven't come across them before either! After doing some research online, I discovered that flapjacks originate from the UK so really are a truly British snack.
Flapjacks, as we know them in the UK, are sweet tray-baked oat bars made from oats, butter, sugar and golden syrup or honey. You can also add yummy extras such as dried fruit, chocolate chips or nuts to make them a bit more exciting. Here's my flapjack recipe if you want to have a go at making them at home. They're really easy to make but can be very moreish!
Ingredients
- 250g porridge oats
- 125g butter
- 125g brown sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons golden syrup or runny honey
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC.
- Melt the butter over a low heat.
- Add the sugar and golden syrup and stir until it dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and mix in the porridge oats.
- Pour the mixture into a large lined or greased baking tin and squish down using the spoon.
- Bake for 25 minutes until golden.
- Once cooked, leave them to cool for 15 minutes then cut into squares.
- Eat and enjoy!
Have you ever tried flapjacks? What's your favourite thing to bake at home?