Flapjack

Flapjacks are a type of oat bar, typical of Great Britain, sweet and energizing. I will be happy to share the recipe with you, and perhaps add an Italian touch to it.

Ingredients

• 250g butter
• 250g light brown sugar (you could use Muscovado sugar for a more intense flavor)
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup (or honey as an alternative)
• 500g rolled oats

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 150 °C (300 °F).
2. Line a rectangular baking pan with parchment paper.
3. In a large saucepan, gently melt the butter together with the sugar and golden syrup over low heat. Make sure the sugar dissolves completely without leaving any grains.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and add the oats. Stir well until the oats are completely coated with the butter and sugar mixture.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and level with the back of a spoon.
6. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the flapjacks are golden and crispy on the edges but still soft in the center.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then cut into squares or rectangles while still warm.
8. Let cool completely in the pan before removing the pieces.

For an Italian touch to this dessert, you could add a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla to the mixture, or spread a thin layer of Nutella on the cooled flapjacks for a delicious variation.

Trivia

Flapjacks, in their simplest versions, date back to the 16th century. Initially, they were smoked and not baked, and represented a practical meal for workers in the countryside and miners.