The flapjack originated in Britain and is a sweet dense cookie bar prepared from oats, butter, sugar, and golden syrup or honey. It is baked in a tray and then cut into rectangles; these are made at home as well as available ready-packaged. Variations of the flap jack recipe include the use of chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, toffee, and coatings. The texture of this bar cookie ranges from soft and moist to dry and crisp. However, on the other side of the Atlantic in the United States a flapjack is also referred to as a pancake or hotcakes which is a thin flat cake made from a batter and cooked on a oiled griddle or frying pan; however, it may be baked to reduce the calories. The American version is made up of milk, flour, eggs, sugar and a raising agent. They are normally topped with maple syrup and/or fresh fruit and served for breakfast.
History
The word flapjack was being used as far back as the 17th Century; however, at this time the word referred to a tart or pan-cake. It was considered to be a Middle Eastern dish and a common English dessert, and then a flapjack was described as something similar to an apple flan. It was not until 1935 a flapjack was considered to be made of rolled oats. The history of pancakes (flapjack) is considered to be prehistoric and was one of the earliest types of cereal foods. They were baked on hot stones or shallow earthenware pots over a fire.
Recipes
Apple & Coconut flap jack recipe
Ingredients
- 9 oz / 250 g butter
- 9 oz / 250 g caster sugar
- 6oz / 175 g golden syrup
- 16oz / 450 g oats
- 6 oz shredded coconut
- pinch of ground ginger
- 2 apples, peeled and chopped
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease or line a 13 by 9 inch baking tray with margarine or parchment paper.
- Mix together oats, coconut, and apple in a bowl.
- Combine butter, sugar, and golden syrup in a medium saucepan, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Add to the oat mixture and stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the greased baking tin and spread out evenly, bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely before removing from baking tin a slice into rectangles.
Note: Substitutes for golden syrup as it is not readily available in the US are molasses, maple syrup, or corn syrup.
American flap jack recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon margarine, softened
Directions
- Mix together flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a bowl. In another bowl, beat together eggs, milk, vanilla, vegetable oil and margarine. Mix together dry ingredients into egg mixture; mix until smooth.
- Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using just about 1/4 cup for each flapjack.
- When small air bubbles and golden brown edges start to appear, flip and brown both sides.
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