Chewy British Flapjacks

Do you think of pancakes when you hear the word flapjacks?  Well, think again - British Flapjacks are nothing like American pancakes.  They're a buttery, caramely, chewy kind of granola bar that is utterly and amazingly DELISH!!  No wonder they're so beloved by Britons (Australians have a similar version called Muesli Bars).  We can't keep the family away from them... not even the kid who hates everything. 

This recipe calls for Lyle's Golden Syrup , which is a popular cane sugar syrup from the UK.  It has a rich, complex caramel flavor and it's one of my favorite ingredients so I buy it whenever I find it... even brought several tins home when we went to England.  In the US it can be purchased Wegmans, Harris Teeter, Shop Rite, specialty food shops, gourmet food shops, and British import stores.  If you can't find it, you can substitute agave nectar, honey, or light corn syrup, but definitely make an effort to find the golden syrup.  It's amazing stuff and I almost always use in place of honey or corn syrup called for in the recipes that I bake.  I dare you to keep a spoon out of the stuff - bet you can't do it!!

Items used to make this recipe:

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• Lyle’s golden syrup https://amzn.to/2He9t3r

• quick oats https://amzn.to/2HidHra

• 8-inch square cake pan https://amzn.to/2YquldH

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/2LAoIYJ

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Chewy British Flapjacks

Printable Recipe

makes 16

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar (light or dark)

• 1/4 cup (84g) Lyle's golden syrup (or agave nectar, honey, or corn syrup)

• pinch of salt

• 2 1/2 cups (250g) quick cooking oats (old-fashioned oats can also be used)

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and butter a 8x8-inch non-stick square pan.

2. In a medium sauce pan, melt butter.

3. Add brown sugar, golden syrup, and salt; stir until sugar dissolves and mixture is bubbly.

4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

5. Add the oats; stir until all the oats are coated (at first it will seem like there isn't enough liquid to coat all of them, but don't worry, just keep stirring).

6. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan.

7. Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden brown.

8. Remove pan from oven and rest for 5 minutes before cutting into squares or rectangles; cool completely in pan before serving (about an hour).

Notes

• Cut while still warm, but don’t remove from pan until cool (they will fall apart).

• flapjacks can also be baked in muffin tin.

• Use a plastic knife to cut the flapjacks (they won't stick to the plastic). 

• If you prefer crunchy over chewy, simply bake for an additional 5-10 minutes.   

adapted from Bon Appetit

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Chocolate and Banana Baked Oatmeal

When I saw this yummy baked oatmeal posted on Budget Bites yesterday, I knew I had to make it immediately.  So glad I did because it does not disappoint!  I wish you could have experienced the heavenly aroma of chocolate and bananas when I pulled this glorious treat out of the oven.  Crazy good!

We like to let our baked oatmeal cool to room temperature so we can cut slices to snack on throughout the day.  That gave me the perfect opportunity to dress it up with a little whipped cream and chocolate curls.   

Chocolate and Banana Baked Oatmeal

makes 6-8 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Oatmeal:

• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted

• 1/3 cup brown sugar, light or dark

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 2 cups milk

• 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

• Optional Garnish - sliced banana, chocolate curls, heavy cream, vanilla sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray baking pan with non-stick spray. In a large bowl, mash 1 1/2 cups of bananas (3-4). 

2. Add all the remaining oatmeal ingredients except the oats; whisk to combine (make sure there are no cocoa powder lumps).

3. Stir in the oats and pour into prepared pan (or equivalent 2-quart baking dish); place on sheet pan and place in oven for 45 minutes. 

4. Eat warm or cool to room temperature and garnish with sweetened whipped cream, banana slices, and chocolate curls. 

adapted from Budget Bites

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