With summer nearly here, it’s no wonder that you might be in the mood for a sweet treat to enjoy along with the sunny weather.Not too sure what to make? Well, flapjacks are the perfect tea time treat to have with ice-cold lemonade or even a nice cup of tea.Flapjacks have long been a British household family favourite, dating all the way back to the 16th and 17th centuries when the term first came into use. The ever-popular traybake is typically made from a big dollop of golden syrup, butter, sugar and the most important ingredient of all- oats! There have been a number of different varieties of flapjack over time, with nice but naughty additions such as chocolate chips. However, all good things come in moderation! A traditional flapjack can be a little calorific so make sure to check out our healthy twist to this British classic, with tips and tricks to make a delicious, lower-calorie treat for all the family to enjoy this summer in less than 40 minutes!Ingredients:200g porridge oats, 100g unsalted butter or margarine or coconut oil, 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup, 200g mix of dates, raisins or any other dried fruit you’d like to add-chopped into fine pieces, 40g of seeds (pumpkin or sunflower) OR desiccated coconut.Method:1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C(fan) and prepare a lined baking tin with non-stick baking parchment, large enough to evenly spread your mixture (It is advised to find at least an 18cm square baking tin).2. Prepare all the dry ingredients and weigh them.3. Chop the dried fruits and seeds. If you fancy, you could even add a bit of grated lemon zest to give a little zingy flavour, or more fruit such as a grated apple to make an extra healthy mix! You may also choose to use a food processor to break down the mixture but don’t worry if not. Then, mix until well combined in a large bowl.4. Next, weigh out 100g of butter or your healthier alternative, and add this to a pan along with 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup. Keep the pan on a low heat until everything has melted.5. Combine the dry mixture with the melted butter and honey in the bowl. You can get the kids involved by getting them to thoroughly mix everything together.6. Then, pour the mixture into the prepared tin, packing it in all the nooks and crannies, using the back of a spoon to smooth everything and spread the mixture evenly so that the tin is well and truly full.7. Finally, bake for a total time of 20 minutes in the preheated oven until you have some good old golden oats. Leave to cool, cut into scrumptious squares and enjoy sharing with all the family!Top Tips?Store the flapjacks in a cool, dry place in an airtight container in order to make them last for a couple of days though they most probably will get eaten by your little foodies as a yummy, healthy tea time treat!You could add some finely chopped almonds to the dry mix to add a bit more of a low-calorie crunch, or even try adding dried banana chips for a unique, healthy combination!We also love fresh berries sprinkled on top!Make sure to also check out our vegan and honey flapjack recipes for a little bit more of a naughty sweet treat.Bon Appétit!
With summer nearly here, it’s no wonder that you might be in the mood for a sweet treat to enjoy along with the sunny weather.
