Flapjacks, also known as pancakes, are a breakfast staple worldwide. Many cultures have enjoyed them and are believed to have originated in Europe before spreading to other continents.
Brief History and Origin
The earliest recorded mention of flapjacks dates back to 1430 in England when they were referred to as “flappe” or “flappen” cakes. This name was believed to be derived from the Middle English word “flauren”, meaning flat cake. The first recipes for flapjacks appeared in cookbooks during the 16th century and typically included oats, flour, butter, sugar, eggs and milk.
In America, flapjacks were popularized by Native Americans who used cornmeal instead of oats. Cornmeal was more accessible than oats due to its abundance in North America. As settlers began to move westward across the continent, they adopted this version of flapjacks, known as hotcakes or griddlecakes.
As time went on, variations of flapjacks began appearing all over the world, with each culture adding its unique ingredients and flavours. In Germany, buckwheat flour is often used, while Scandinavians often add cardamom for flavour. In Japan, rice flour is commonly used, while Australians prefer self-rising flour for pancakes.
Today, countless variations of flapjacks can be found worldwide, including buttermilk pancakes from America, Dutch baby pancakes from Germany and crêpes from France, to name a few! Despite these regional differences, one thing remains constant: everyone loves a good stack of freshly made flapjacks!
Flapjacks – The Recipe
- Preparation Time: 15 mins
- Cooking Time: 15 mins
- Total time: 30 mins
- Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 250g porridge oats
- 125g butter
- 2 tbsp. golden syrup
- 125g brown sugar
Instructions
- Prepare oven and preheat to 180 degrees C. Also, prepare a 20 x 20cm baking tin by lightly greasing it with butter.
- In a food processor, add sugar, butter and oat until everything is well combined; do not overmix.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin, level the surface using the back of the spoon, and cut it into 12 squares.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until it turns golden brown.
- When ready, remove from oven, allow to cool for some time, then take off from tin and serve warm, or you can keep in an air-tight container and place in the refrigerator for future use.
Popular variations
Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:
- Chocolate Chip Flapjacks: Caramelized oat bars with shards of sweet chocolate, these classic British flapjacks are a quick bake and delicious. Soft and chewy chocolate chip flapjacks are sure to be a hit in your family and friends.
- Honey, nut, and raisin flapjacks: There are crunchy, sticky, and sweet oat bars that have unique sweetness from the honey, and rich crunch from the nuts and chewiness from the raisins.
- Easy Sticky Date Flapjacks: They have the perfect soft, squidgy texture, but they also hold together well. they have caramelized taste from the dates making them ideal for picnics, bake sales, and birthday parties.
- Peanut Butter Flapjacks: Peanut butter flapjacks are sweet, chewy, and rich, with peanut butter and chocolate chips. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate makes it ideal for snacking, breakfast and even for party favours.
- Maple Pecan Flapjack: These flapjacks are Loaded with beautiful maple syrup and crunchy pecans. You will get a delicious bite of chewiness with crunchiness and earthy warm taste of maple.
