British Flapjacks

In America, the word flapjacks might conjure images of a stack of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup. But in the UK, “flapjacks” mean something entirely different. British flapjacks (also called cereal bars, oat bars, or oat slices) are golden oat-packed, hand-held triangles, often enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack. They’re commonly regarded as the chewy-crunchy ancestor of granola bars.

These one-bowl, five-ingredient bars are incredibly simple to make: Melt the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup on the stove, coat the oats with the warm mixture and a pinch of salt, and then scrape into a tray and bake. Golden syrup is a popular sweetener in Great Britain, beloved for its butterscotch-like flavor. It’s available at some American supermarkets, specialty food stores, British import shops, and online. If you can’t get your hands on some before you want to make these bars, substitute corn syrup, maple syrup, or mild honey. For the best texture, seek out quick-cooking oats for this recipe, which are thinner than old-fashioned rolled oats and heartier than instant oats. You can add any number of mix-ins, like chopped dried fruit or nuts, but this basic British flapjack recipe is great as is. Once the bars have baked, let them cool slightly before slicing into neat triangles.