Name: Peanut Butter Flapjacks
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 75g / 2.6oz unsalted butter; 75g / 2.6oz soft light brown sugar; 50g / 1.75oz crunchy peanut butter; 2 tbsp golden syrup (see note 1); 1 pinch sea salt; 175g / 6.1oz rolled porridge oats; Baking dish – around 20cm x 12cm / 8in x 4.5in for 6 portions (the default recipe). This one from Amazon is a great size

Question 1

Is peanut butter good for you?

Accepted Answer

Despite being ridiculously tasty and moreish, peanut butter does have several health benefits. Firstly, it's high in protein and will help keep you satiated for longer, since it's low in sugar and high in slow-release energy fats. 

While it does have a fairly high-fat content, the majority of fats found in the butter are unsaturated so they can help reduce cholesterol. It's also quite high in fibre which can help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. 

However, peanut butter does contain a high proportion of fat and calories, coupled with the fact that flapjacks are loaded with sugar and syrup. Moderation is key!

Question 2

Why is my flapjack crunchy?

Accepted Answer

If your flapjacks are coming out too crunchy for your liking, then the most likely reason is that you have baked them for too long in the oven. When you remove the flapjacks from the oven, they will still be soft and will harden more as they cool. So don't be tempted to keep baking them until they are fully firm.

Rough cooking times for flapjacks are 20-30 minutes for soft and chewy, 30-40 minutes for medium-soft and 50 minutes for crunchy and firm. (Naturally, factors like the size of your baking dish, the size of the batch you are making, and your oven temperature will affect this).

You might also have overdone the butter, sugar, syrup, and peanut butter in the first couple of recipe steps if your flapjacks are too hard. This reduces the mixture to more of a caramel. You only need to melt the ingredients in this step, not simmer or boil them.

Question 3

How do you stop them from falling apart?

Accepted Answer

The main culprit for flapjacks that fall apart or disintegrate is cutting them before they have fully cooled. If you are impatient and want to dig into your prized treats as quickly as possible then leave them on the counter until slightly warm and then transfer them to the fridge to fully cool. 

It is also important to press the mixture down firmly before placing them in the oven. This will help to press out any air and help everything stick together.

Question 4

How long do they keep?

Accepted Answer

These flapjacks can be kept at room temperature in an air-tight container or tin for around a week. I recommend adding a layer of baking/parchment paper inside the tin to line it.

You can also freeze the flapjacks for up to 3 months. Stack them in a sealed container or pop them into a food bag before freezing. If you are stacking them then place a piece of parchment/baking paper between each layer to stop them from sticking together.

Peanut Butter Flapjacks

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition