Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (2024)

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A really easy recipe for Mary Berry flapjacks. With only 4 ingredients, they’re super simple making them perfect for kids and beginner bakers.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (1)

Mary Berry Flapjacks are a classic bake that you can’t really go wrong with. With only 4 ingredients, not only are they easy, they’re really quick to make, making them the perfect bake for kids.

My kids love flapjacks and I don’t blame them – they’re really moreish! We’ve tried a few different flapjack recipes – we’ve got a healthier version with no refined sugar and added dried fruit and a really indulgent chocolate flapjack – but this recipe is just a really simple, traditional flapjack. It reminds me of the flapjacks I used to make when I was little.

How can kids help to make Mary Berry’s flapjacks?

This really is so simple so they’re perfect for even young children and toddlers who want to bake something. I think the best easy recipes for children are quick and only use a few ingredients so these flapjacks fit the bill perfectly.

Your kids can enjoy measuring out the ingredients and mixing them all together. You can do this just with a mixing bowl and wooden spoon which also means you don’t need any special equipment.

Why did my flapjacks not stick together?

If you find your flapjacks a bit crumbly, it’s probably because your mixture is too dry. Increasing the quantity of butter or adding fewer oats should help.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (2)

Are flapjacks healthy?

No, these ones certainly aren’t but they don’t pretend to be (don’t be fooled by the oats). There’s a lot of sugar and butter in flapjacks, so they’re by no means a healthy snack.

You can make flapjacks a bit healthier by removing the refined sugar and adding dried fruit. Our fruity honey flapjacks do exactly that and are a great alternative if you’re looking for something a little bit healthier.

Can you use honey instead of golden syrup?

Yes. If you don’t have any golden syrup you can swap it for an equal quantity of honey.

Why are my flapjacks hard?

Flapjacks can become too hard if you bake them for too long. You should remove them from the oven when they are a nice golden brown colour, before they turn too dark. They’ll be a little soft when they’re still hot, but will harden as they cool.

Why have my flapjacks stuck to the tin?

Flapjacks can stick to the tin or be hard to remove from the tin sometimes so its best to grease the tin and line it with baking or greaseproof paper.

The best way to do this to make the flapjacks easy to remove, is to cut a a long strip of baking paper and lay it one way in the tin, then do the same the other way. You should then be able to just lift it out.

Do you cut flapjacks when they’re hot or cold?

Mary Berry suggests allowing the flapjacks to cool slightly before removing them from the tin and cutting them.

I personally find it a bit easier to wait until they have cooled completely and hardened before removing them.

How do you store Mary Berry flapjacks?

Flapjacks will keep in an air tight container for up to a week.

Other flapjacks and traybakes

If you liked these simple Mary Berry flapjacks, why not try some of our other flapjack recipes or our easy traybakes:

Raspberry flapjacks
Raisin and honey flapjacks
Millionaires shortbread
School cake
Banana and chocolate chip bars
Apple flapjacks
Tottenham cake

Useful equipment

You might need the following baking tools/gadgets to make these flapjacks:

Digital scales
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups
23 x 30cm baking tin
Cake storage

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Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (3)

Ingredients

225g (1 cup) butter or margarine
225g (1 cup) demerara sugar
75g (¼ cup) golden syrup
275g (3 cups) porridge (rolled) oats

How to make Mary Berry’s flapjacks

Preheat your oven to 160C / 140C Fan / 320F and grease a 23 x 30 cm (9 x 12 inch) baking tin. Line the base and sides of the tin with baking / parchment paper to make it easier to remove from the tin later.

Melt the wet ingredients together

Get your kids to measure the butter and sugar and add them to a small pan.

Measure the golden syrup. If you are using digital scales you can set your pan on them and get your kids to add the golden syrup straight in. This way is a bit easier and less messy.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (4)

Heat your pan on a low heat until everything has melted. If your kids are old enough to be trusted next to the hob, they can use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir it all together.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (5) Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (6)

Measure the porridge oats

While the butter mixture is melting get your kids to measure out the porridge/rolled oats an add them to a large mixing bowl.

Mix everything together

Pour the melted butter mixture over the porridge oats and get your kids to stir it all together. Keep mixing until all the oats look like they’re coated in the melted mixture.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (7) Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (8)

Bake the flapjacks

Tip the oat mixture into your prepared baking dish then press it down with the back of a spoon or spatula. Make sure you press it down well into the corners and edges.

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Bake the flapjacks in the oven for 35-40 minutes. They’re ready when they’ve turnerd a nice golden brown colour. You don’t want to leave them in the oven for too long – if they turn too dark they can be a bit hard.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (11)

Remove the flapjacks from the oven and leave them in the tin to cool. Once they’re cool, remove them from the tin, cut them into squares, serve and enjoy.

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (12)

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (13)

Mary Berry flapjacks

Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (14)cookingwithmykids

A really easy recipe for flapjacks from Mary Berry. With only 4 ingredients, they're super simple making them perfect for kids and beginner bakers.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine scottish

Servings 20

Calories 162 kcal

Equipment

  • 225g (1 cup) butter or margarine

  • 225g (1 cup) demerara sugar

  • 75g (¼ cup) golden syrup

  • 275g (3 cups) porridge (rolled) oats

Ingredients

  • 225 g (1 cup) butter or margarine
  • 225 g (1 cup) demerara sugar
  • 75 g (¼ cup) golden syrup
  • 275 g (3 cups) porridge (rolled) oats

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 160C / 140C Fan / 320F and grease a 23 x 30 cm (9 x 12 inch) baking tin. Line the base and sides of the tin with baking / parchment paper to make it easier to remove from the tin later.

Melt the wet ingredients together

  • Measure the butter, sugar and golden syrup add them to a small pan.

  • Heat your pan on a low heat until everything has melted.

Measure the porridge oats

  • While the butter mixture is melting measure out the porridge/rolled oats an add them to a large mixing bowl.

Mix everything together

  • Pour the melted butter mixture over the porridge oats and stir it all together. Keep mixing until all the oats look like they're coated in the melted mixture.

  • Bake the flapjacks

  • Tip the oat mixture into your prepared baking dish then press it down with the back of a spoon or spatula. Make sure you press it down well into the corners and edges.

  • Bake the flapjacks in the oven for 35-40 minutes. They're ready when they've turnerd a nice golden brown colour.

  • Remove the flapjacks from the oven and leave them in the tin to cool. Once they're cool, remove them from the tin, cut them into squares, serve and enjoy.

Keyword traybake

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Similar recipes

If you liked these flapjacks you’ll love our Biscoff millionaires shortbread, our simple traybake recipes as well as our favourite easy recipes for kids.

This recipe was first published in February 2016 and reposted with new images and an updated recipe in February 2021.
Mary Berry flapjacks recipe | Cooking with my kids (2024)

FAQs

Why do my flapjacks always fall apart? ›

Why do my homemade flapjacks fall apart? This can happen if you overcook or undercook your flapjacks. When you overcook a flapjack, the golden syrup dries out and it becomes crumbly. An undercooked flapjack will have a raw doughy texture that doesn't hold its shape.

What happens if you put too much syrup in flapjacks? ›

For me, too much golden syrup makes them hard to bite through and dunking is simply not an option with flapjacks. Golden syrup can also make flapjacks sickly sweet. Cooking times and oven temperature are important.

How long will homemade flapjacks keep? ›

Run a knife round the edge to release the flapjack, leave for 5 minutes, then mark into bars or squares. Leave in the tin until nearly cold before cutting into pieces and removing to a wire rack. The flapjacks will keep in an airtight tin for up to 10 days.

How do you keep flapjacks from crumbling? ›

Sprinkle with a tiny bit of sea salt. 4 Spread the mixture out, pressing it out evenly with the back of the spoon. 5 Bake for 25 minutes until golden. After five minutes cooling, press the flapjacks with something heavy and flat (this compresses them and stops them falling apart).

Why are flapjacks unhealthy? ›

At the end of the day flapjacks are still a sweet snack so need to be eaten in moderation. For example, they contain natural sugars that even if you eat a low sugar flapjack, still needs to be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.

Should you cut flapjacks hot or cold? ›

Do you cut flapjacks when they're hot or cold? Mary Berry suggests allowing the flapjacks to cool slightly before removing them from the tin and cutting them. What is this? I personally find it a bit easier to wait until they have cooled completely and hardened before removing them.

How do you know when flapjacks are done? ›

Press evenly into the baking tray and bake on a high shelf in the oven for 15 minutes. The flapjack will still feel soft. Leave to cool in the tray for 5 minutes and then lift the baking paper up and out of the tray to cool completely. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Does flapjack harden as it cools? ›

Your flapjack will not look completely baked when you remove it from the oven. Due to the nature of the ingredients, they will still be quite melt-y, but don't worry – it will set as it cools down. As long as the edges have started to darken and look slightly crisp, it's ready to come out the oven.

Why is my flapjack greasy on the bottom? ›

Don't let the butter bubble, it should all just be warm and gooey. Add flour/oatmeal. (To make the oatmeal I just put a large handful of oats into my pestle and mortar and grind them for a minute.) This stops the finished flapjack being too greasy.

Can I use white sugar instead of brown in flapjacks? ›

As such, you can expect your bake to look the same but not necessarily taste as you'd like. For instance, white sugar flapjacks might taste drier and less gooey than normal, so bear this in mind before you flick on your oven.

What can I use instead of golden syrup in flapjacks? ›

Golden syrup – This gives the lovely sticky texture. You can replace it with honey if you prefer but it can be more unpredictable as honey is a natural product where the consistency varies. The flavour can also be quite strong. Brown sugar – Soft light brown sugar gives a good flavour but caster sugar will work too.

Can you use maple syrup instead of golden syrup? ›

Yes, maple syrup can be used instead of golden syrup in many recipes, however this will result in a slightly different flavour. Golden syrup and maple syrup are generally substituted in a 1:1 ratio, however you may choose to use slightly less maple syrup to maintain texture and consistency.

Can I rescue crumbly flapjack? ›

If the mixture continues to be crumbly then you may like to increase slightly the amount of golden syrup in the mixture. There is also a fairly easily recipe based on the ratio of oats to other ingredients for flapjacks which may be worth trying if Soot's Flapjacks are not quite to your taste.

Why is my flapjack not chewy? ›

Over-boiling the sugar, butter and syrup, is one possible reason for flapjacks being so hard. Simmering the butter-sugar-syrup mixture on low heat is better. Adding flour helps make them chewy and soft. If you missed the flour, that could be the reason.

Do flapjacks go out of date? ›

On every product page, you will find the shelf-life listed for each flapjack. The general rule, however, is that if the flapjack is covered in fudge, it will last you 2 months, probably more. Our fruity or cake-topped flapjacks and the brownie and bakewell flapjacks have a shelf life of 3 weeks.

How do you get flapjacks to stick together? ›

Line the tray with a piece of baking parchment, scrunch it into a ball first, then open it up again to help it push into the corners. Put half the oats in a Nutribullet, blender or food processor and blend until they form a fine flour. This helps the flapjacks stick together so don't skip this stage.

Do flapjacks harden as they cool? ›

Your flapjack will not look completely baked when you remove it from the oven. Due to the nature of the ingredients, they will still be quite melt-y, but don't worry – it will set as it cools down.

Should flapjacks be runny when cooked? ›

Put it in the oven for 20-25 minutes. It should look a bit runny still, because it will keep cooking in the tin for another five minutes. Leave it to cool for ten minutes and then cut it into 12 pieces.

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