Easy 5-ingredient peanut butter flapjacks (oat bars), ready in under 30 minutes!
These easy vegan flapjacks are a salty-sweet flavour explosion thanks to the peanut butter and crunchy demerara sugar! They're perfect for after-school snacks, lunchboxes, as well as grab and go breakfasts. You might also like my no bake flapjack recipe.
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Flapjacks are one of our go-to snacks in this house. I've made many variations over the years, but I think these sweet and chewy vegan peanut butter flapjacks are one of my favourites.
👩🍳 Love flapjacks? Try these easy apple flapjacks when Bramleys are in season!
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Easy vegan flapjack recipe.
- Packed full of protein so they're a great option for a post-work-out breakfast.
- Easily transportable for picnics and lunchboxes.
- A filling after school snack for kids.
- A great base recipe, to which you can add many different flavours.
What is a flapjack?
Whilst flapjacks are a well-known and well-loved oat-based snack here in the UK, the term flapjack actually refers to a type of pancake in the US. Flapjacks in the US and Canada are generally known as oat bars or granola bars.
The most important thing is how good they taste, and these taste really good!
Is golden syrup vegan?
I use Tate & Lyles Golden Syrup which is a certified vegan product. If you aren't vegan, feel free to use honey instead.
If you're in the US, and are struggling to source golden syrup, you can substitute it for maple syrup, which is also vegan.
🥘 Ingredients
Traditionally flapjacks have a few key ingredients; oats, sugar, syrup, and butter.
In this recipe I've substituted the butter with peanut butter, to make them vegan and dairy free. You can use smooth peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter - the choice is yours!
I've also added a teaspoon of vanilla extract, which complements the salty peanut butter really well. If you don't have vanilla extract, just leave it out.
🥄 Equipment
You'll need a large heavy based pan for melting the peanut butter, syrup, and sugar together, a wooden spoon for mixing, as well as a 20x30cm baking tin lined with non-stick baking paper (parchment paper) for baking.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Melt the peanut butter, golden syrup, and demerara sugar together in a pan on a low heat on the hob.
Two: Stir in the oats and vanilla extract and mix to combine.
Three: Make sure all the oats are completely coated in the melted peanut butter mixture.
Four: Press the mixture into a tin and bake for 18-20 minutes. Leave to cool completely before cutting into bars.
💭 Top tips
The peanut butter flapjacks should still be slightly soft when they come out of the oven but will harden up as they cool.
Don't do what my Nana used to do, and leave them in the oven too long, thinking they weren't cooked. We used to call her flapjacks tarmac cakes! I'm pretty sure someone broke their tooth on one of her 'flapjacks' once!
🍴 Serving suggestions
My kids love these flapjacks as an after-school snack, with an ice-cold glass of almond milk. Don't forget to take a look at my after school snack ideas post for more inspiration.
They're also great for quick and easy breakfasts on the go.
You could even serve them for dessert with a scoop of ice cream.
📖 Variations
This vegan peanut butter flapjack recipe is a great base recipe for adding in different flavours. Here are a few suggestions:
- Add 100g of milk chocolate chips for a peanut butter chocolate chip flapjack. After you've stirred in the oats, wait for a few minutes before adding the chocolate chips to make sure they don't melt completely.
- Make them fruity by adding 100g of dried fruit, such as raisins, chopped dried apricots, dates, or dried cranberries.
- Chopped nuts would make a delicious nutty variation. 100g of chopped pecan nuts or walnuts would work well.
- Add the zest or an orange or a teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Dip half of each flapjack bar into melted dark chocolate and allow to set for a really indulgent treat.
- Substitute the demerara sugar with light brown sugar or muscovado sugar for a chewier texture.
- Add a small mashed banana and make banana and peanut butter flapjacks.
- Mix in a tablespoon of jam (strawberry or raspberry would work well) for an extra sweet fruity flavour.
- Sprinkle with a little sea salt before serving.
🥡 Storage
The flapjacks will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.
🧊 Suitable for freezing?
Flapjacks are suitable for home freezing. Allow the flapjacks to cool completely, cut into squares then place in a freezer-safe container. Separate each layer with a piece of baking paper to prevent them from sticking together.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Hard and crunchy flapjacks are usually the result of overcooking them. They should still be soft when you take them out of the oven.
Yes, the flapjacks will feel soft when you take them out of the oven but will set once cooled.
Do not attempt to cut the flapjack into bars until they are completely cool. You can, however, score the tops with a sharp knife 5-10 minutes after they come out of the oven, which will make cutting them into bars later a lot easier.
For a soft and chewy flapjack, bake them for 18-20 minutes. Give it a bit longer if you prefer a crispier flapjack. They should be a light golden brown colour when you take them out of the oven.
Yes, you can use thick runny honey in place of golden syrup.
😋Related recipes
Here are some more recipes where rolled oats are the star of the show!
- Maple Syrup Flapjacks - Swapping traditional golden syrup for pure maple syrup gives these delicious oat bars a unique sweet taste and crispier top!
- Easy Flapjack Recipe - a basic recipe with just 5 ingredients.
- Sticky Date Flapjacks - The dates give these delicious sweet flapjacks a lovely soft texture.
- Chocolate Chip Flapjacks - Soft and chewy double chocolate chip flapjacks with a melted chocolate drizzle topping are perfect for snacks, picnics, and bake sales!
- Biscoff Flapjacks - Golden buttery biscoff flapjacks will become your new favourite bake in no time at all, and best of all you only need 5 ingredients to make them!
- Creamy Peanut Butter Porridge (vegan) - A creamy vegan peanut butter porridge made with oat milk and topped with sliced banana and sweet maple syrup.
- Oatmeal Cinnamon Cookies - Take a handful of ingredients from your pantry and 15 minutes later you will be tucking into a batch of warm oat cookies, fresh from the oven.
- Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola - This granola is refined sugar-free and gluten-free, making it a great breakfast choice for both kids and adults alike.
- Anzac Slice - This easy Anzac slice recipe is a twist on the classic Anzac biscuit, with the same oaty, coconutty goodness, but in a slice form.
🍽️ More family-friendly recipes
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Recipe
Peanut Butter Flapjacks (Vegan)
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Ingredients
- 200 g Peanut Butter
- 200 g Demerara Sugar or light brown sugar
- 200 g Golden Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract optional
- 400 g Rolled Oats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160 fan/ 350F/ Gas 4) and line a 20 x 30cm baking tin with baking paper.
- In a large pan melt together the peanut butter, sugar and syrup on a low heat.
- Take the pan off the heat and mix in the vanilla extract and oats.
- Press the oat mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for 18-20 minutes. Remember, your flapjacks will still be soft to the touch when you take them out of the oven, but will harden up on cooling.
- Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Add 100g of milk chocolate chips for a peanut butter chocolate chip flapjack. After you've stirred in the oats, wait for a few minutes before adding the chocolate chips to make sure they don't melt completely.
- Make them fruity by adding 100g dried fruit, such as raisins, chopped dried apricots or dried cranberries.
- Chopped nuts would make a delicious nutty variation. 100g of chopped pecan nuts or walnuts would work well.
- I've used smooth peanut butter in these flapjacks, but crunchy peanut butter would give the flapjacks a lovely texture.
Choclette says
Your peanut butter flapjacks sound really dreamy. I've made them with tahini before so I can imagine how good they are with peanut butter. Great idea to sub it for the butter to make them vegan.
Michelle Rolfe says
Perfect for lunchboxes (or for a cuppa!) Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle
Angela says
With school starting soon I made a batch of these thinking they might be great to put in lunch boxes. Hopefully they last that long. What a great snack.
Liz says
Just when I thought I couldn't love pancakes more, I try them with peanut butter! Haha so tasty!
Jen says
Thanks for the tip about not leaving them in the oven too long! They came out perfect!
Shelley says
I was so intrigued when I saw this recipe post! Like you said, here in the U.S., flapjacks typically refer to pancakes - I had no idea that they could also be these wonderful little snack bars, but I'm so glad to have found this gem of a recipe! The combination of fiber from the oats and protein from the peanut butter makes them a great refueling snack after school!
Sue says
What a yummy and healthy snack. perfect to have around for snack attacks. Thanks, great recipe.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
These look like the perfect snack! The fact that they are vegan, delicious and require just a few ingredients is even better!
Chris Collins says
These are perfect lunch box food! Can't wait to try out the recipe 🙂
Gina says
Being from the US I always thought flapjack meant pancake but I think I like this definition even better! Such a delicious snack!
Laura says
I love how portable these are. It really is the easiest snack for the kiddos. They can just carry it with them, whatever they're doing. No plate necessary.
veenaazmanov says
Best option for a snack box during the week. Have to stock some this weekend. Delicious, crunchy and flavorful.