Soft and chewy air fryer flapjacks using classic golden syrup (also known as air fryer oat bars).
A classic British sweet treat, and perfect for Afternoon Tea or as an energy-boosting snack. They also make an excellent addition to picnics or a tasty treat for kids' lunchboxes.
You can whip up a batch of these amazing flapjacks using 4 simple pantry staples: golden syrup, butter, sugar, and oats.
This recipe is a firm family favourite here, and baking the flapjacks in your air fryer means that they are even quicker to make than traditional oven-baked flapjacks.
I've found the best baking tin for making these flapjacks in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer is a shallow 20 cm square tin, but if you have a different model of air fryer you may need to use a different size pan. For a round air fryer, a 20cm round sandwich tin might be better, or for a dual drawer air fryer, a loaf tin or rectangular baking dish will probably work best.
You can also now buy silicone air fryer cake tins that mould to the shape of your air fryer basket. So there is no excuse not to get baking!
Check out my eBook⭐Easy Air Fryer Recipes⭐ which includes 20 straightforward and easy-to-follow recipes for your air fryer. You'll be a pro at air fryer cooking in no time! Don't miss out, get your copy today!
👩🍳 Love air fryer baking? Try my easy air fryer chocolate brownies or air fryer cherry Madeira cake next!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
- This recipe is incredibly easy and only requires a few simple ingredients.
- Golden syrup gives these flapjacks a sweet and caramel-like flavour. It's a perfect combination with the chewy texture of the oats.
- You can easily customise this recipe to your liking by adding in nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips or experimenting with different types of syrups.
- These flapjacks are a perfect snack for on-the-go. You can take them to work, school, or on a day out. They are easy to pack and will keep tummies feeling full for hours.
- Flapjacks can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. They're perfect for making in advance and you can even freeze them for up to 3 months.
🛒 Ingredient notes
Porridge Oats - use regular porridge oats or quick cook oats, but the latter may result in a softer texture. Jumbo oats don't absorb the melted butter mixture very well so avoid using these.
Butter - used to bind the flapjacks together and give them a rich, buttery flavour. I recommend using unsalted butter to control the salt content in the recipe, but you can use salted butter if that's all you have on hand.
Golden Syrup - the star ingredient in this recipe, providing the flapjacks with their deliciously sweet and caramel-like flavour. You can substitute golden syrup with honey or maple syrup if you prefer, but keep in mind that it may alter the flavour and texture of the flapjacks.
Sugar - a combination of light brown sugar and demerara sugar gives the flapjacks their sweetness and a slightly crunchy texture. You can use either one of these sugars, or you can substitute them with granulated sugar or caster sugar if you prefer.
Vanilla Extract - to enhance the flavour of the flapjacks. You can omit it if you don't have any on hand or substitute it with other flavourings such as ground cinnamon.
🔪 How to make flapjacks in an air fryer
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Preheat the air fryer to 160c and set the timer for 20 minutes. Grease and line a suitable baking tin with nonstick baking paper. I use a 20cm (8") square tin in my air fryer, but you may need to use a different size tin.
Two: In a large saucepan, melt the butter, sugars and golden syrup together on a low heat, mixing with a wooden spoon to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Three: Stir in the oats and vanilla extract.
Four: Spoon the flapjack mixture into the prepared tin and press down firmly with the back of a spoon. Air fry for 16-20 minutes.
💡 Pro Tip - the flapjack will still look soft when you take it out of the air fryer but it will firm up on cooling.
Five: Allow the flapjack to cool in the tin for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight), before cutting them into squares with a sharp knife.
💭 Expert tips
- Grease and line your baking tin with nonstick baking paper (parchment) to ensure the flapjacks don't stick to the sides of the tin.
- Use a large non-stick heavy-based saucepan to melt the butter, brown sugars, and syrup together. It must be large enough to mix the oats in too.
- Use the back of metal spoon or spatula to press the mixture down into the lined baking tin, ensuring it's pressed down firmly to avoid crumbling.
- Leave the flapjacks to cool completely in the tin before cutting them into bars.
- Pop the tin in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
🍴 Serving suggestions
These easy flapjacks are perfect for a post-exercise energy boost, a quick grab-and-go breakfast, or an after-school snack for the kids.
They're also great served for afternoon tea, alongside other classic bakes such as air fryer sausage rolls, cherry scones, fruit scones, and chocolate tiffin.
📖 Variations
- Add some chopped nuts, dried fruit or chocolate chips to the mixture before baking for some extra flavour and texture.
- Swap out the golden syrup for honey or maple syrup for a different flavour. You might also like to try my maple syrup flapjacks in the air fryer (just reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes).
- If you're feeling adventurous, try adding in some spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Swap half the butter for peanut butter for a nutty taste.
- Add chopped apple to the mixture for a warm and comforting Autumn bake. You could also try my apple flapjacks in the air fryer (reducing the cooking time by 5 minutes).
- For a really indulgent treat, try my Biscoff flapjacks in the air fryer (reducing the baking time by 5 minutes).
- Transform them into granola bars by adding seeds such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, as well as chopped dried apricots and dried cranberries.
🥡 Storage
Store - place the flapjacks in an airtight container or cake tin at room temperature for up to a week.
Freeze - to freeze your flapjacks, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They will keep for up to three months in the freezer. To defrost, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for about an hour. They can also be reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes to regain their chewy texture.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Yes, just increase the baking time by 5 minutes.
Yes, you can use margarine instead of butter but it may affect the flavour and texture of the flapjacks.
Yes, you can use vegan butter and maple syrup instead of butter and golden syrup.
Honey can be used as a substitute for golden syrup in this recipe, but keep in mind that the flavour and texture may be slightly different.
😋More air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Creme Egg Croissant
- Air Fryer Rock Cakes
- Air Fryer Mini Egg Dessert Pots
- Air Fryer French Toast
- Air Fryer Baked Apples
- Air Fryer Scones
- Air Fryer Brownies
- Air Fryer Apple Crumble
- Air Fryer Banana Bread
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Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Flapjacks
Equipment
- Kitchen Scales
- Large Saucepan
- Shallow 20cm Square Baking Tin
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 225 g Butter
- 100 g Demerara Sugar
- 100 g Light Brown Sugar
- 5 tablespoon Golden Syrup
- 360 g Oats rolled porridge oats
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 160c and set the timer for 20 minutes. Grease and line a suitable baking tin with nonstick baking paper. I use a 20cm (8") square tin in my air fryer, but you may need to use a different size tin.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter, sugars and golden syrup together on a low heat, mixing with a wooden spoon to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.225 g Butter, 100 g Demerara Sugar, 100 g Light Brown Sugar, 5 tablespoon Golden Syrup
- Stir in the oats and vanilla extract.360 g Oats, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Spoon the flapjack mixture into the prepared tin and press down firmly with the back of a spoon. Air fry for 16-20 minutes.💡 Pro Tip - the flapjack will still look soft when you take it out of the air fryer but it will firm up on cooling.
- Allow the flapjack to cool in the tin for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight), before cutting them into squares with a sharp knife.
Notes
- Grease and line your baking tin with nonstick baking paper (parchment) to ensure the flapjacks don't stick to the sides of the tin.
- Use a large non-stick heavy-based saucepan to melt the butter, brown sugars, and syrup together. It must be large enough to mix the oats in too.
- Use the back of metal spoon or spatula to press the mixture down into the lined baking tin, ensuring it's pressed down firmly to avoid crumbling.
- Leave the flapjacks to cool completely in the tin before cutting them into bars.
- Pop the tin in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
- Add some chopped nuts, dried fruit or chocolate chips to the mixture before baking for some extra flavour and texture.
- Swap out the golden syrup for honey or maple syrup for a different flavour. You might also like to try my maple syrup flapjacks in the air fryer (just reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes).
- If you're feeling adventurous, try adding in some spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Swap half the butter for peanut butter for a nutty taste.
Check out my eBook⭐Easy Air Fryer Recipes⭐ which includes 20 straightforward and easy-to-follow recipes for your air fryer. You'll be a pro at air fryer cooking in no time! Don't miss out, get your copy today!
Diana Reis
These are delicious and super easy to do in the air fryer. I definitely thought these were something different as an American, but it was a happy accident to find this delicious recipe.
Sara Welch
Enjoyed these for breakfast this morning and started my day off right! Easy and delicious; another great recipe for my air fryer, indeed!
nancy
tasty oat bars - i couldn't believe i could make flapjacks in the air fryer. it came together in no time!
Ieva
We make flapjacks every single week and take them to work as a snack, but this was the first time I made them in an air fryer. Your recipe truly works (we added some dried apricots too)! Great texture!
Kushigalu
I never knew you could make such delicious bars in the air fryer. Thanks for the recipe.
Harini Vino
Wow! this recipe is super yummy and looks delicious. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
by
https://www.hariniskitchen.com/
Kirsty Harvey
This recipe is amazing I got 3 tray out of one batch as I have a ninja dual. These were all gone within 24hrs which means I now have to make more lol