A Totally Versatile and Foolproof Flapjack Recipe

This post is a little late in coming, but worth the wait I promise! A while ago, I was contacted to take part in a BakingMad.com campaign about summer recipes. For those of you who aren't aware, BakingMad.com is a great site created from a collaboration of Allinson Flour, Billington's Sugar, Silver Spoon, Askey's and Neilson Massey (makers of the greatest vanilla extract in my opinion). It is a great place to go for ideas, tips, recipes, offers and competitions, a real hub for the nations bakers, and worth an hour of your time to go and browse all they have to share. 

The brief for this challenge was to share my favourite summer-time recipe, and believe it or not, this is it. Not only are flapjacks a great picnic treat, and perfect for taking on a summer-time adventure, but for a person who works from the driver's seat of their car, the summer months prove difficult to take a lunch that doesn't melt, curdle, dry out or just generally turn warm and mushy, flapjack are a great, versatile and filling treat to have in my bag that won't spoil in the warmth. Plus, this recipe is so easy to adapt, I can add all kinds of great flavours and make really tasty, nutritious variations. 

Honey, Tropical Fruit and Nut Flapjacks - recipe here

The Basic Recipe

100g salted butter

100g clear honey

100g golden caster sugar

200g rolled oats

Combine the butter, honey and sugar in a pan, and place over a low heat until the butter and sugar have melted. Remove from the heat and pour over the rolled oats in a mixing bowl. Mix well until all the oats are coated. Transfer to an 8 inch lined tin, and press the mixture down evenly with the back of a spoon. Bake at 170 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown all over. Remove from the oven, and take a knife immediately and mark where you want to cut slices. Allow to cool completely in the tin. Turn out, and cut into slices.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can add just about anything to the basic ingredients, dried fruits, flavours, nuts, chocolate chips, between 100 - 150 grams of additional ingredients to the above recipe will work. 

Almond and Cherry Flapjacks

This is my latest favourite flavour combination, with the hint of a Bakewell Tart in a portable oat-y form! Using the above recipe, just add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, and 1/2 tablespoon cherry brandy to the melted butter mixture, and 50g ground almonds and 100g chopped glace cherries to the oats. Simples! 

Almond and Cherry Flapjacks

Check out more great picnic recipes over at BakingMad.