This quick & easy recipe for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars {British Flapjacks} are a chewy, oaty treat packed with peanut butter goodness.
This recipe makes a sweet, buttery, rich oatmeal bar that’s packed full of peanut butter flavor. The dark chocolate drizzle on top is the perfect finishing touch.
If you’ve never had a British Flapjack, imagine a buttery, oatmeal cookie bar that’s got a sticky sweet syrup baked right in. Amazing, right?
These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars won’t keep you in the kitchen long, but the end result will taste like you slaved for hours! They’re perfect as an afternoon pick-me-up or after-dinner dessert.
Why This Recipe Works
- Using golden syrup makes these oatmeal bars deliciously chewy, just like a British flapjack.
- The addition of brown sugar adds an extra depth of flavor you won’t get with the syrup alone.
- Honey adds sweetness without making them sickly.
- Drizzling the peanut butter oatmeal bars with some semisweet chocolate finishes them off perfectly. You can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate after all!
Ingredient Notes
- Sugar: Using brown sugar adds an extra depth of flavor you won’t get with the syrup alone.
- Syrup: I use golden syrup to make these bars, it helps combine the ingredients and results in a wonderfully chewy snack.
- Oats: For this recipe, I used quick cook oats in the US, and in the UK both jumbo porridge oats and rolled oats work well.
- Chocolate: I like to use a semisweet dark chocolate so the finished product isn’t sickly sweet. If you prefer you can use milk chocolate or even white chocolate, it is up to you.
What Is A Flapjack
A flapjack is an oat bar popular in the UK. They’re typically made with butter, oats, and Golden Syrup. Although they’re often made at home, they are commonly found in bakeries, ready-made in grocery stores and shops.
How To Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (British Flapjacks)
- Melt the sugar, butter and syrup in a saucepan.
- Mix in the peanut butter and honey and combine.
- Combine the oats with the melted mixture.
- Press into a pan.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a rack.
- Melt some chocolate.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over the finished flapjacks.
- Serve and enjoy!
Step By Step Instructions
Melt the brown sugar, butter and syrup until fluid.
Mix in the peanut butter and honey and combine.
Mix in the oats.
Press the mixture into a pan and bake in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes.
Allow to cool
Melt the chocolate (for a guide to melting chocolate click here), and drizzle over the top.
Serve and enjoy!
Erren’s Top Tips
- Can’t find golden syrup? Use dark corn syrup in its place.
- When melting butter and sugar together do this over a low heat. High heat can make it end up hard and taffy-like.
- To avoid a greasy flapjack, mix the butter and sugar mixture well until you see no sign of melted butter
- When baking, watch closely and remove from the oven when the edges are golden. Overcooking may result in a hard, crunchy flapjack.
- For a crisper flapjack, use a more shallow baking pan and bake at a higher temperature.
Storing Instructions ❄
- At Room Temperature: These oatmeal bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to 10 days (they are often better the longer you leave them)
- In The Fridge: Keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
- In The Freezer: Store in a freezersafe container for up to three months.
Other Great Bakes
FAQs
To stop your flapjacks from falling apart slice them once cooled. Slicing when warm will make them crumble.
Flapjacks should be chewy on the outside and softer in the middle. However, they still taste good if soft all round.
Flapjacks are usually eaten cold.
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Let’s Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars {British Flapjacks}
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 4 tablespoons golden syrup
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3¾ cups rolled oats
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Melt the brown sugar, butter, and golden syrup until fluid. Mix in the peanut butter and honey until combined. Add the oats until combined.
- Add to a 9 inch round pan (or 9-inch square pan) bake 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
- While the flapjacks cool, melt the chocolate in a microwave on high heat in 30-second intervals until melted.
- Once cooled, drizzle the flapjacks with the melted chocolate and leave to set before serving.
Tips + Notes
- Can’t find golden syrup? Use dark corn syrup in its place.
- When melting butter and sugar together do this over a low heat. High heat can make it end up hard and taffy-like.
- To avoid a greasy flapjack, mix the butter and sugar mixture well until you see no sign of melted butter
- When baking, watch closely and remove from the oven when the edges are golden. Overcooking may result in a hard, crunchy flapjack.
- For a crisper flapjack, use a more shallow baking pan and bake at a higher temperature.
Sabrina says
My husband loves peanut butter desserts! He’s going to love when I bake this for him!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I used to buy flapjacks all the time when I lived in England. They always came wrapped in plastic wrap at the cash registers and were great because they were a filling and generally lower sugar alternative to other sweet treats. These look awesome!
amyengberson says
These look like just the thing for breakfast! Who say’s you can’t eat peanut butter and chocolate first thing in the morning!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
These would be a huge hit with my boys! They are peanut butter obsessed!
Back for Seconds says
Yum! I can never resist chocolate and peanut butter!
WillCookForFriends says
Yum! These sound so amazing! I’m having a hard time believing your friend doesn’t like peanut butter, though. Who doesn’t like peanut butter?! PB and chocolate are a match made in heaven, too. I could eat these every day and never get sick of them!
insidetherustickitchen says
My mouth is watering I LOVE flapjacks! This recipe sounds incredible.
Sia Krishna says
Chocolates, peanut butter, oats, golden syrup… what not to like? I am a huge fan of flapjacks and your easy recipe is just what I needed on a gloom winter day. 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
This looks absolutely delicious and SO easy! Cannot wait to try it!
Veena Azmanov says
Oh this looks so delicious!! I love how elegant that looks I could have that for my desserts.! Yummmm..!