Fruit and nut flapjacks recipe

CLICK TO RATE
(4 ratings)

Fruit and nut flapjacks require only six ingredients and take 35 minutes from start to finish.

fruit and nut flapjacks
(Image credit: Future)
  • healthy
Makes12
SkillEasy
Preparation Time10 mins
Cooking Time25 mins
Total Time35 mins
Cost RangeMid
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories330 Kcal17%
Fat20.3 g29%
Saturated Fat10.6 g53%
Carbohydrates31.6 g12%
Sugars19.2 g21%
Protein3.5 g7%

You can make our fruit and nut flapjacks with just six ingredients, many of which you’ve probably already got in your cupboards. 

A basic flapjack recipe includes oats, butter, sugar, and syrup. This fruit and nut flapjack recipe has a similar foundation of ingredients but with the addition of apricots, chocolate, and hazelnuts. You can swap the apricots for raisins or sultanas for a cheaper option and use dark chocolate instead of milk if you want to keep the recipe dairy-free. Using a plant-based alternative to butter alongside dark chocolate will make this recipe vegan. 

Ingredients

  • 175g unsalted butter
  • 150g golden syrup
  • 225g jumbo oats
  • 50g whole hazelnuts
  • 75g apricot pieces
  • 150g milk chocolate

WEIGHT CONVERTER

to

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 180C (160C fan, Gas 4). Grease and line a tin, we used a 29x18cm Swiss roll tin but a similar size or shape is fine to use too.
  2. Put the butter, golden syrup and a pinch of sea salt into a saucepan. Once the butter is melted, remove from the heat.
  3. Stir in the oats and make sure everything is combined. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin. Smooth the surface with a knife. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin.
  4. While the flapjack is cooking, put the nuts onto a small baking tray and add to the oven for 8 minutes to roast. This intensifies the flavour so don’t skip it!
  5. Melt the chocolate and spread it over the cooled flapjack. Tap the tray on the surface to smooth the chocolates. Scatter over the nuts and fruit. Refrigerate for 15 mins and then leave at room temperature for the chocolate to set. Use a sharp knife to cut into 12 squares.

Top tips for making fruit and nut flapjacks 

Looking for advice on the best nuts for flapjacks? Read our helpful tips below and you’ll also find information on how to store any leftover open packets of fruit and nuts you have after making this recipe. 

Are flapjacks healthier than cake?

It depends on the recipe. Some flapjack recipes will contain less fat and sugar compared to a cake recipe. Both should be considered a treat and consumed in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet. Making flapjacks and cake from scratch gives you more control over the ingredients and portion size.

What are the best nuts for flapjacks?

Any nuts make a tasty addition to this flapjack recipe. If using whole nuts, roasting them before chopping will intensify the flavour. You can sometimes buy already roasted nuts but it’s very easy to do this yourself. 

Food writer Jessica Ransom recommends roasting batches of nuts because it’s energy efficient and means you’ll always have a stash of roasted nuts on standby. They make a delicious snack on their own but can also be scattered into granola, over yogurt, or used in other bakes and savoury recipes such as stir fries. 

How to store dried fruit and nuts?

If you have packets leftover from making this recipe that have some fruit or nuts still in, it’s best to transfer them to an airtight container for storage. This will keep the nuts from going stale and the fruit from drying out or deteriorating in flavour and quality. If you have lots of nuts to store you can also freeze them. 

For flapjacks with crisp, clean edges it’s important to use a sharp knife. If your knife drawer is in need of an upgrade, consider investing in this 16cm cook’s knife from Wüsthof. 

WÜSTHOF Classic Stainless Steel Cook's Knife, 16cm - View at John Lewis 

WÜSTHOF Classic Stainless Steel Cook's Knife, 16cm - <a href="https://john-lewis-and-partners.pxf.io/c/221109/871855/12148?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=goodtoknow-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnlewis.com%2Fwusthof-classic-stainless-steel-cooks-knife-16cm%2Fp5645561" data-link-merchant="john-lewis-and-partners.pxf.io"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View at John Lewis 

Food writer Jessica Ransom says a 16cm chef’s knife is a great piece of staple kitchen equipment that will make cooking and baking preparation an easy task. This knife has a comfortable, sturdy handle and the blade is crafted from a single piece of stainless steel to give it maximum strength and durability. Using this knife to cut your fruit and nut flapjacks will help give you neat squares or bars for professional presentation. 

If you enjoy this recipe be sure to check out our banana flapjacks and our granola bar recipe. They both make tasty options for picnics or breakfast on the go. We also have a healthy flapjack recipe if you want something that is less than 100 calories per portion. 

Rose Fooks
Deputy Food Editor

Rose Fooks is Deputy Food Editor at Future Publishing, creating recipes, reviewing products and writing food features for a range of lifestyle and home titles including GoodTo and Woman&Home. Before joining the team, Rose obtained a Diplome de Patisserie and Culinary Management at London’s Le Cordon Bleu. Going on to work in professional kitchens at The Delaunay and Zedel.