If you're looking for a fun sweet treat, these honey flapjacks without golden syrup are just the thing! Easy to make, they're perfect for an afternoon snack for kids and adults alike and take about 30 minutes to come together.
Love flapjacks? Do check out my popular maple syrup flapjack recipe for another tasty treat!
If you've seen my honey cookies and honey mug cake then you'll know I do love this sweet treat for a cozy comforting snack! Honey is readily available and gives a decadent sweetness to baked goods and desserts.
Making these flapjacks without golden syrup is very simple and uses minimal ingredients that are all pantry staples (or fridge staples!).
Whether it's for an afternoon snack at home, or to pack up to take as a school or work snack, I think you'll love these easy honey flapjacks as they're such a tempting treat!
Do check out my blackberry cookies and turmeric energy balls for more sweet treats to try! And my 25 homemade snacks and gluten free cookies posts have so many tasty options!
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What is a flapjack?
British flapjacks are bars or squares made from oats, butter, sugar and a more liquid sweetener. Traditionally flapjacks use golden syrup, but you can also make them with other sweeteners such as in this honey flapjack recipe or use maple syrup instead. A fun baked good, they are a popular British sweet treat to make at home.
⭐ Why This Recipe is so Good
Decadent sweet treat. With sweet honey and a hint of spice, these sticky chewy flapjacks are perfect for a homemade snack or dessert. Guests will love them too if you're having afternoon tea!
Pantry staples. Made with just 5 ingredients, they are all pantry staples (or fridge staples!).
Easy to make. No complicated steps, these honey oat flapjacks are so simple to make and kids can help out too.
🍯 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Oats - to make flapjacks you need to use rolled oats (sometimes called old-fashioned oats or porridge oats) rather than steel cut oats or fine quick-cook oats.
- Honey - I suggest to use runny honey. There are many different varieties, which will give a slightly different flavour, so choose your favourite! This is used as the sweetener as we are making flapjacks without golden syrup.
- Sugar - I always use demerara sugar but you can use light brown sugar also.
- Cardamom (or cinnamon) - to add a hint of spice. Feel free to add more if you like!
📖 Swaps and Variations
Use cinnamon or cardamom. The spice is optional, but gives a nice extra flavour to the flapjacks.
Add some broken nuts or seeds. For a bit of crunch you can add some crushed pistachios or Brazil nuts. Make them quite small so they combine in with the oats.
🔪 Step by Step Instructions
Making these easy flapjacks with honey is very simple, with just a few steps. Kids may like to help with the stirring too (under supervision!).
All the instructions are set out in the recipe card below, but these photos will help guide you.
Step 1: Melt butter, honey and sugar
In a large pan, melt the butter, honey and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon to help the sugar dissolve and combine the ingredients (image 1).
Step 2: Add rolled oats
Take the pan off the heat. Tip the rolled oats and cinnamon (or cardamom) into the pan and stir well so they are coated in the honey mixture (image 2).
Step 3: Spoon into your baking tin
Spoon the honey flapjack mixture into a baking tin lined with parchment paper. Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to spread the oats into an even layer and into the corners of the tin, packing it down firmly (image 3).
Step 4: Bake the flapjacks
Bake the flapjacks for 20-25 minutes, until light golden brown. Wait for the tin to cool for 5-10 minutes, then slice with a sharp knife into 12 squares (image 4). Leave to cool completely before removing from the tin.
💭 Expert Recipe Tips and Notes
- It's important to use old fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. Steel cut oats or fine quick-cook oats do not have the same size or consistency and will not result in the same flapjack texture.
- Make sure to pack the flapjack mixture down well in the baking tin with a wooden spoon or spatula, and into the corners. This will help it stick together and prevent it from falling apart or crumbling.
- Don't slice the flapjacks too early. The flapjacks will still be soft when they come out of the oven. They need to cool a little first or they will crumble - I made this mistake on a recipe test and while it was still delicious, they didn't hold together too well.
- Don't try to move the flapjacks from the baking tin until they have cooled - they are rather delicate while still warm!
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Flapjacks can crumble if the oats mixture isn't packed down into the baking tin, they are sliced too soon, as they need to cool first during which time they will harden a little, or are moved out of the baking tin before they are cool enough. They can also crumble if you don't use enough honey as this helps bind the oats together.
Rolled oats (sometimes called old fashioned rolled oats) are best for flapjacks.
This honey flapjacks recipe uses honey and sugar to sweeten and does not use traditional golden syrup.
Yes, honey is a good swap for golden syrup in flapjacks.
If you use certified gluten free oats then these are gluten free flapjacks.
🍽 How to Serve Honey Flapjacks
- Flapjacks are perfect for a cozy afternoon sweet treat, and go so well with a warm drink such as my honey warm milk, cardamom warm milk or my lemongrass tea.
- If coffee works for you, then a steaming hot cappucino or latte is delicious!
- Serve with a side of low histamine berries or fruits for a more healthy snack!
- A good scoop of homemade ice-cream makes for a decadent dessert.
🍰 More Sweet Treats
Find lots of fun sweet treats and snacks here, including my popular spiced pear fritters and my coconut macadamia cookies these other fun recipes:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ and comment if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Honey Flapjacks (No Golden Syrup)
Equipment
- Baking tin approximately 20x25cm
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 300 g rolled oats
- 175 g butter
- 4 tablespoon honey (runny honey)
- 125 g demerara sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon or cardamom
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C / 360F and line a baking tin of approximately 20x25cm with parchment paper.
- In a large pan, melt the butter and stir in the sugar and honey over a low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine the ingredients until the sugar dissolves.
- Tip in the oats and cinnamon (or cardamom) and take the pan off the heat. Stir well so the oats are all coated in the honey mixture.
- Spoon the honey oats into your lined baking tin. With a spatula or the back of a wooden spoon spread the oats evenly into the tin, including into the corners. Pack the oats down so they are in an even layer.
- Bake the flapjacks with the tin in the center of the oven for 20-25 minutes. Check at 20 minutes! The flapjacks should be light golden brown in colour.
- Remove the tin from the oven and leave to cool for at least 5-10 minutes, before slicing into 12 squares with a sharp knife. If it is still very soft at this point, leave to cool for longer as it will crumble. Then set aside to cool completely before removing the flapjacks from the tin.
Notes
- Make sure to pack the flapjack mixture down well in the baking tin with a wooden spoon or spatula, and into the corners. This will help it stick together and prevent them from falling apart.
- Don't slice the flapjacks too early. They need to cool a little first or they will crumble.
- Don't try to move the flapjacks from the baking tin until they have cooled - they are rather delicate while still warm!
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate. Please note that this recipe was made using metric measurements and is suggested for these flapjacks.
- cinnamon scores 0, but is higher on other lists.
- demerara sugar specifically isn't rated, but cane sugar scores 0.
Vanessa says
Fantastic recipe, thank you!
Claire says
So glad you enjoyed the flapjacks Vanessa!
Elaine says
I tried this recipe today... turned out great. I will be making them again!
Claire says
Lovely to hear that you enjoyed them so much Elaine!
Sarah says
I made these last week as we are trying to avoid ultra processed food. They are delicious and will now be made on repeat. A great after school snack.
Claire says
Lovely to hear that you enjoyed them Sarah! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment too 🙂
Ruth says
Just made these with my 3yr old so yummy and easy to make
Claire says
So glad you and the little one both enjoyed them!