Healthy Fruity Flapjack Recipe

I was really happy with how this healthy (or at least healthier) flapjack recipe turned out. After having some mixed results with trying to make baking a bit better for you (see disappointing banana bread), I was frankly a bit worried they would just be pants. But I'm glad I experimented a little, as these turned out to be pretty tasty in the end. I guess unsuprisingly they have quite an apple-y flavour, which kind of reminded me of those Mr Kipling apple pies, but for me this was a plus if anything.

Don't expect buttery, sugary crunchiness, as you just can't really achieve that with this little fat and syrup. Instead expect something sweet, oaty, apple-y, and almost like a crumbly cake in texture. Not your typical flapjack but very nice with a cup of tea indeed.

Ingredients

- 50g chopped dried fruit (I used dried apples, cranberries and apricots)

- 25g chopped mix nuts

- 150g rolled oats

- 15g (tbsp) sugar (I'll probably leave this out next time)

- 2 tbsp golden syrup

- 3 rounded tbsp smooth apple sauce

- 50g butter

Make six good-size pieces

By my calculations these have around 225 cals per piece, compared to 405 cals if following a standard recipe (180 cals less). You also save about 13g of fat per flapjack.

I made these to the usual flapjack method. Pre-heat oven to 180 oC and grease a baking tray. Melt together sugar, syrup, apple sauce and butter over low heat, before adding in combined dry ingredients and mixing well. Press onto baking tray and bake for around 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Mark out squares while still warm, and store in an air-tight tin.