Flapjack: the easy recipe for a beloved British snack

Rich, buttery, and deliciously sweet, flapjacks are a classic British snack made from oats mixed with butter, golden syrup, and sugar and baked to golden brown perfection. Flapjacks are often enjoyed at breakfast or as an afternoon snack with tea. They're ideal for packed lunches as a sweet, hearty pick-me-up.

Flapjacks are super easy to make, and you can whip up a batch in less than an hour. You customize your flapjacks by adding fresh or dried fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, jam, Nutella, dates, or nut butter.

Tips for Making the Best Flapjacks

The secret to making authentic flapjacks is to use golden syrup. It has a unique sweet, buttery taste. If you can't get ahold of golden syrup, use maple syrup or honey as a substitute.

The best oats for making flapjacks are quick-cooked rolled oats. Don't use steel-cut or instant oats.

Thicker flapjacks are chewy while thinner ones are crunchier, similar to a granola bar. Make your flapjacks as thick or thin as you like depending on your preference. Use a smaller pan for thicker flapjacks and a larger baking dish for thinner ones.

If you don't have demerara sugar in your pantry, you can swap it out for brown sugar or muscovado sugar.

Once you've mastered the basic flapjack recipe, try adding chocolate, toasted nuts, dried fruit like raisins or cranberries, fresh berries or bananas, jam, nut butter, or Nutella.

How to Store Flapjacks

Keep your flapjacks in an airtight container at room temperature for four days or in the fridge for one week. For long-term storage, freeze your flapjacks for up to one month.

How to Make Flapjacks

Preheat your oven to 325F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper.

Place the butter, sugar, golden syrup, and salt in a pot.

Heat until the butter melts and the sugar is almost completely dissolved.

Pour the oats into a large bowl. Stir in the butter mixture.

Mix well until the oats are coated in the butter mixture.

Transfer the oats to a baking dish. Spread into an even layer and pat down with a spatula.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until lightly browned. The center of the flapjacks should be slightly springy to the touch. Don't overbake them.

Place on a rack to cool.

Slice into squares.

Serve and enjoy!