Monday 24 May 2010

Flapjacks

Flapjacks were probably the first thing that I ever learnt to cook when I was about 4 years old. I have recently rediscovered them because they are so incredibly easy to make. One conundrum that I have not yet fully resolved is the question of why M&S flapjacks always taste so much nicer than the ones I make at home. My sister told me a while back that the secret ingredient is condensed milk, but I've never been able to find a good recipe that uses it. So I decided to make one up - here it is. If you have any suggested refinements, please let me know if the comments.

Ingredients

300g rolled oats
100g butter
75g soft brown sugar
120ml condensed milk
60ml golden syrup

Preheat the over to 180C. Place all of the ingredients except the oats into a large bowl and microwave for 3 minutes until the butter and syrup have melted. Stir well to ensure that the ingredients are fully mixed, and then stir in the oats. Once the oats are fully coated in the liquid, turn the mixture out into a small, lined tin (roughly 20cm by 20cm) and press down with a spatula or palette knife until the mixture is evenly spread across the tin. Place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. As soon as you've taken the flapjacks out of the oven, use a knife to mark out 16 squares. Allow the flapjacks to cool in the tin and then turn out.

UPDATE: My friend and former colleague Emma has tried this recipe and recommends boiling the ingredients before adding the oats so that they start to caramelise.

5 comments:

  1. Great to find out about secret ingredients as flapjacks are a winner in our household and Ruby and Lola love making (and eating) them.

    I am going to try these with your added ingredient and will report back!

    Lots of love - thoroughly enjoying your blog.

    Emma (Light)
    x

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  2. They didn't quite have the M&S intense caramelly flavour when I tried them. I might need to experiment further. Maybe dulce de leche instead of condensed milk?

    Let me know how you get on!

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  3. Making flapjacks this afternoon when Lola gets back from school! Maybe the caramelly flavour comes from boiling (rather than just melting) the ingredients first so that they caramelise..? I'll let you know how we get on anyway. Miss you pod mate x

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  4. So, I put the ingredients in a pan (minus the oats), melted slowly then brought to the boil and let caramelise together a bit. Then followed your recipe. Result is yummy flapjacks that taste almost exactly like the M&S ones. Lola has already eaten 3! (but I cut them much smaller than yours.)

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  5. Lovely, thank you! I have posted an update. xx

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