These easy air fryer flapjacks are soft, chewy and packed with buttery golden syrup flavour. Made with everyday ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes, they're perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon tea or an easy homemade snack whenever the craving strikes.
Preheat the air fryer to 160°C (320°F) 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. You can also use a firm sided silicone tin, provided it fits inside your air fryer (please note silicone does not conduct heat in quite the same way as metal, so the flapjacks may take a few minutes longer to cook).
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. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Boiling can dissolve and cook the sugars too much, producing hard flapjacks once cooled.
225 g Butter, 100 g Demerara Sugar, 100 g Light Brown Sugar, 5 tbsp Golden Syrup
Stir in the vanilla extract, followed by the rolled oats. Mix thoroughly until every oat is evenly coated in the buttery syrup mixture.
360 g Oats, 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Spoon the mixture into the lined tin and spread it into an even layer. Press it down firmly with the back of a spoon or spatula, making sure to compact the mixture right into the corners and edges. Place the tin in the air fryer and cook for 16-20 minutes. Cook for 16 minutes if you like your flapjacks extra soft and chewy, 20 minutes for a firmer texture with crispier edges, or 18 minutes for the perfect balance of chewy centres and lightly golden edges (our family's favourite!). Start checking after 15 minutes, as cooking times can vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and how powerful it is. The flapjacks are ready when the edges are lightly golden and the centre is just set but still feels slightly soft-it will firm up as it cools.💡Pro Tip - The flapjacks are ready when the edges are lightly golden and the centre no longer appears wet. The middle should still feel slightly soft when gently pressed.
Allow the flapjack to cool in the tin for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight), before cutting them into squares with a sharp knife.
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Notes
Air fryer models vary. Cooking times for air fryer flapjacks may differ slightly depending on your model and basket size. Check from 15 minutes onwards — the edges should be golden and the centre slightly soft.
Flapjacks firm up as they cool. They may look underdone when removed from the air fryer, but will set as the butter and syrup cool. Leave to cool completely before slicing.
Press the mixture firmly. Compacting the oats well in the tin helps prevent crumbly flapjacks.
Tin size matters. A shallow 20cm square tin works well in a Ninja Foodi. If using a smaller tin, the flapjacks will be thicker and may need 2–3 extra minutes.
Oats choice affects texture. Rolled porridge oats (US: old-fashioned oats) give the best chewy texture. Quick oats create a softer flapjack. Avoid jumbo oats.
Substitutions. Golden syrup can be replaced with honey or maple syrup, though flavour and texture will vary slightly.
Storage. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.