Sunday, October 23, 2016

Flapjacks - maple syryp, cacao nibs, nuts and choc chips





These flapjacks were a midnight baking moment, we'd been talking about flapjacks earlier today and I decided to have a look in the cupboard, and at some recipes online.  

The basics of flapjacks are usually the same; Oats, butter (or a similar non dairy fat like coconut oil), and more often than not, golden syrup.

I found a variety of things but hazelnuts, cacao nips and maple syrup stood out, then added walnuts just because i love them with maple syrup, which i'd decided was going to replace the golden syrup.  Anyway here's the recipe - however it's a basic idea which you can add to - I think replacing some of the butter/sugar mix with mashed dates, banana or apple puree would make this quite a bit healthier, as well as adding dried fruit and a variety of seeds and nuts - just make sure everything is mixed well before baking and you can't really go wrong :) As it has no eggs, you can taste as you go along too, and it's super easy to "veganise" ;) 


Maple, nut and chocolate flapjacks recipe, adapted from River Cottage flapjacks


170g unsalted butter (substitute with coconut oil for vegan version)
2 tblspns maple syrup
150g demerara sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla paste (optional)
250g porridge oats
a good pinch of sea salt flakes
pinnch of ground cinnamon 
50 g walnuts, chopped roughly
50 g hazelnuts, lightly roasted in a dry pan , chopped roughly
30 g cacao nibs
50 g plain chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 150C (130C for fan oven)
Line a 23x17cm baking tray (weird size i know, it's 9x7", i blame living in the UK haha) with some baking liner, and lightly grease.  

Melt the butter in a pan on a low heat with the maple syrup, sugar, and vanilla if using until the butter has just melted.  The sugar should still be grainy.  Remove from the heat and cool slightly (the next step takes enough time for this to cool enough)

In a large mixing bowl, add the oats, salt, cinnamon, nuts and cacao nibs, and mix lightly (i did it with clean hands) until it all looks reasonably combined. 

Add the slightly cooled butter mix to the oats, and mix with a wooden spoon until it's all combined and you can't see any more dry oats.  At this point, add the chocolate chips and mix through until mixed.  I don't add them before as i feel they might melt when pouring the butter mix initially (that might be a good thing haha!) 

Tumble the mixture into the prepared baking tray, and press down with the back of a spoon firmly and evenly.  

Bake for 25 minutes for until lightly golden for a chewy, crunchy, golden treat :) 


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