Friday 6 July 2012

Simple Baking ♥ Flapjack

Hello Lovelies,
The weather is terrible here today.....we are getting a months worth of rain in 24 hours apparently....sigh.
At least it's a good excuse to stay in and do some baking. A few of you asked about the recipe I use for flapjack, so I thought I would share it here.
Ummmmm, love this simplest of baking, it's very popular with my boys ( and me ) and not too naughty as the largest ingredient is porridge oats ( well that's my theory ).........
       

As it really is very straight forward to make it's great for children to have a go at too. Despite that I've managed to get it wrong a few times so I'll do a detailed method to help you avoid the same pitfalls .

You need just 4 ingredients 
4oz Margarine or butter
3oz Golden Syrup
3oz Light brown soft sugar
8oz Porridge Oats 


And just 6 pieces of baking equipment
A large microwavable bowl
Some weighing scales
A 7 x 11 inch tin ( mine was sold as a lasagne tin )
a wooden spoon ( or any large spoon ) 
some baking paper or grease proof paper
and a metal spoon ( not shown )



Last year , after watching Mary Berry on the Great British Bake Off I bought some digital scales . They were not expensive ( about £10 ) but are invaluable to ensure accurate measuring and therefor consistent results .


The other great thing about these scales is that you can zero them between ingredients and cut down on the washing up. Just be careful not to add too much or it's difficult to get it out :0)

For the flapjacks weigh the margarine, sugar and golden syrup in the bowl


Ummmmmmmm, golden syrup, I love this stuff and it's got to be this make for me....not sure if it's available around the world........ 


pop the bowl in the microwave for a minute (or melt the ingredients in a pan on the hob if you prefer ). If it comes out with un-melted bits of margarine like this  just stir till dissolved........


Then add the porridge oats.......


And mix well .........


line your tray with baking paper ........


And tip in the mixture........


Spend a bit of time pressing the mixture flat and making sure it's evenly spread out.........


Lick the spoon ( optional  but yummy )


Pop the flapjack into the oven  . Mine is an electric fan oven and I think it's quite hot so I set the temp to 160 degrees Celsius ( that's 325 F or gas mark 3 ). You may need to adjust this to suit your oven . 
It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to cook but check regularly and when the edges are starting to  brown like this it's done....


As soon as you take it out of the oven score it into squares  with a knife (not sharp or it will damage your tin).....


And when it's completely cool store it in an air tight container....


Here's mine with my new bargain spotty kettle.......when my old one broke last week I was looking for a cheap replacement and found this in Agros.....for twenty pounds..... Love it . 

I often put a piece of this flapjack in the boys packed lunch and they tell me it's very popular with their friends too :0)
Jacquie x

39 comments:

  1. Lovely to see a recipe with proper tips & hints in (like the lumps of margarine and the non-sharp knife bits). Lots of recipes just leave you guessing or don't point things out enough. It just struck me as warm and human and the kind of thing that blogs should be all about :)

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  2. I also love to make flapjacks because I tell myself they are quite healthy! I use honey instead of syrup and add a banana, raisins and 1/2 tsp of baking powder. I came up with the recipe after accidentally combining two in Sue Lawrence's baking book and Little Son loves them. I have yet to make 'normal' ones and will try your recipe for them. Thanks. xxx

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  3. I love making flapjack because quick and easy and highly appreciated! Also love your dotty kettle, and I have the same storage jars, stashed away because need to revamp my kitchen. I thought they looked very similar to CK but better price tag! Enjoy your weekend, Claire xxx

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  4. Yummy! This is such a good recipe to use with children. I can almost taste them! Ada :)

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  5. Ooooh I'm going to make these tomorrow. Thanks for sharing the recipe! :o)

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  6. Looks yummy! Too bad you can't ship some of that rain over here. We are scorching!

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  7. I've got those kitchen scales too!
    My old ones weren't digital but had a red bar that moved along the scale. It just occurred to me the other day that if you're weighing for instancey 8 ounces of something, with digital scales when it says 8 ounces it could be eight or right up to nearly nine and you don't know. With the old ones you could get it exactly on the line.

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    1. Hi, mine show tenths of an ounce too so it's pretty accurate. If I weigh in grams I drive myself crazy trying to get the weights spot on :0)
      Jacquie x

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  8. they look delicious...I always used the term "flapjack" for a pancake and considered this a oatmeal/granola bar.. I was a bit confused till I googled it!

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  9. Aah we grew up on Lyles syrup in South Africa, there's no better! I had fun telling the boys the story of Samson and his riddle, and using the tin.
    We also know these as granola bars, flapjack for an American pancake, and pancake for a crepe. Had a request yeserday from my little ones, for flapjack, so maybe we'll go for it today.

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  10. This looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing! Happy weekend to you! xo Heather

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  11. Yum, all my girls love flapjacks, must make some yours look sooooo good
    Karen x

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  12. Thank you for the receipe Im going to copy and paste it, print it off and laminate. I love flapjacks. Its good for little ones and cheaper than buying cereal bars.

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  13. We all love flapjacks here too and as you say they are so easy to make and very yummy! I've got a spotty dotty kettle too ~ very similar to yours and I really love how it adds a splash of colour in the kitchen. Hope you have a great weekend :O)x

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  14. These look scrumptious Jacquie! Love you kettle and also your coffee and tea jars that I can spy in the background! Where are they from?
    Victoria xx

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  15. oh yummmmmmmmmy!!!! they absolutely delicious - I could quite easily nibble on one while sitting here gazing out on a soggy day...i think its a 'home' day and get some washing done and tackle the daughters 'messy' bedroom ;0)
    P.s I have the wanties for your kettle! how fabby x

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  16. oooh they look so nice Jacquie - must have a go haven't made flapjacks for quite a while ..and of course they are the perfect snack before a run with the oats and syrup for energy...and of course if you run far enough they can be guilt free!!!

    Have a happy week.
    Fleur xx

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  17. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! I´ve never made something like that. Sounds very delicious! I will go and see if I can get this syrup here at my place.
    Have a wonderful weekend!!

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  18. Looks very yummy, my daughter will love making this with me, thank you. Love the kettle. x

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  19. Just made a batch of flapjacks - thanks for your reminder :)

    Love your new kettle - very snazzy. I wish I'd seent that before we bought our new red one last weekend!

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  20. MmmmmmMmmm that looks so good!!! Its been about a trillion years sonce I made or even ate flapjacks. My Mum used to make them and she had to hide them from us otherwise they would have been gone is a flash. We were seven sisters so I presume that had something to do with it.

    Love that kettle it would look nice in my kitchen too!!! LOL

    Amanda :-)

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  21. Thank you for reminding me, I haven't made any for a few months so I think I need to remedy that! Lovely kettle.
    Carol xx

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  22. Mmmm! Yummy flapjacks! They have always been a favourite of mine. I was just saying to my hubby today that I would love some digital scales! Rachel x

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  23. Yum, I love flapjacks. I tell myself the oats make them healthy too. Sometimes I put in chopped dried apricots as well which makes them so healthy they ought to be available on prescription ;D
    Love the kettle, mine has sprung a leak, I feel a trip to Argos coming on...

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  24. I love flapjacks. In the Netherlands they sell Golden Syrup as well:)

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  25. Just made the flapjack it's yummy, thanks for the recipe x

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  26. Great recipe, so simple, thanks.
    I love golden syrup on Yorkshire pudding, yummy!

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  27. Know these as a granola bar in the US. Flapjacks are another name for pancakes here! Don't have a clue what golden syrup is ... I'll have to google it! I use honey in mine along with dried cranberries and nuts. YUM!!!

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  28. Mmm yummy! I'm off on holiday to Cornwall soon and this looks like the perfect recipe to take with me so we can have something to nibble on come rain or shine :)

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  29. You use the same recipe as me and I make it All. The. Time but it has never occurred to me to melt the butter/sugar/syrup in the microwave! (am chuckling to myself about how dim I can be!) I often throw in a handful of dried fruit and/or sunflower/pumpkin seeds to make them feel even more healthy :)

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  30. I did a bit of research because converting your quantities from british to american/canadian proved quite time consuming so if you don't mind this is what I found that worked here.(tested twice) 4 cups old fashioned oatmeal, 1/3 cup corn syrup, 2/3 cup brown sugar or demera sugar and 1 stick of butter (1/4 of an american pound) this makes enough to fit in a 9 x13 inch cake pan -- also, I grind, in my coffee grinder one cup of the oats, seems to help the whole thing hold together nicely.

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  31. Apart from the baking paper, that tray of flapjacks could have been the one I made on Sunday. It's even cut into the same number of pieces. I also added some end-of-packet branflake crumbs and some ground flaxseed for extra healthiness though.
    I don't know why I don't make them more often because they're so quick and much healthier than other types of cake.
    Teresa x

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  32. Hmmn, I think my kettle will be springing a leak too! Not in the UK until September...I hope Argos can keep them stocked until then ;)

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  33. Hi there,
    I just wanted to let you know that I made your flapjacks tonight for after tea sweetness and there is a flaw in the recipe...they seem to disappear as they cool down! We started with 16 and now there are only 5 left! Can you help? ;-)
    YUMMY!
    Thanks for the recipe, its great.
    Tess

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  34. I have tried this recipe but had to change it a bit.
    I live in Germany and didn't have the original ingredients.
    Ther syrup here is dark brown and I only had Spoon's dark sugar. So of course the flapjacks are a lot darker then yours.
    They taste a little malty because of the syrup but are still very good.
    I took some to work with me and everyone liked them.

    If you like take a lool here http://pepitassticheleien.blogspot.de/2012/07/flapjacks-deutsch.html

    Greetings from Germany and thank you for your recipe.
    Bianca

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  35. In Australia that same recipe makes what we call Anzac Biscuits...(we do add some extra's too)we drop them in teaspoonfuls on a baking tray and they are yummo too....

    Anzac being the commemoration of the Australian and New Zealanders who fought in the wars...their family sent them these biscuits in packages to the front....
    Lovely Blog..

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  37. Thanks for the recipe Jacquie.
    Yesterday my three children enjoyed making them and eating them! They were yummy.
    I love your pretty spotty kettle.
    Enjoy your weekend.x

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  38. I Googled flapjack recipe yesterday and yours popped up! Simple and delicious - thank you.

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