Very simple to make, but utterly delicious, these Easy Coconut Flapjacks make a great snack or pudding… and are ideal for lunchboxes, picnics, parties and bake sales!
Not my recipe!
Almost all the recipes you find on Easy Peasy Foodie have been created by me… but not this one! I recently took part in a charity auction where I offered the opportunity to have a favourite family recipe published on my website as one of the ‘lots’. And this incredibly delicious recipe for Easy Coconut Flapjacks was the winning bid!
A wonderful back story…
But it gets better… because not only do these flapjacks taste amazing, but they have a rather lovely story attached to them. Here’s the story in the winner’s own words…
“The recipe I would like you to include was fondly termed ‘Uncle John’s Flapjacks’ in our family home and we have used it for many years. It is a recipe that was created by John Slater, my brother-in-law, who was a Yorkshire man and a chef. He spent most of his working life catering for large groups of people in care homes, outdoor adventure centers and the like, and was also a lover of the great outdoors.
John died last year so I wanted you to publish this as a memory of him. He was often known as ‘Big John’, loved his food and created wonderful home-cooked type food on a large scale – a skill indeed! John struggled for much of his adult life with health problems and was on kidney dialysis for many years and, as a nurse myself, was one of my ‘patient heros’. He really hardly ever complained and put up with a huge amount of pain and complicated health issues with amazing strength and tenacity.”
A very clever ‘secret’ ingredient
I’m delighted this recipe was the winning bid – not just because of the lovely story behind it – but also because these flapjacks are really rather clever… You see, they contain an unusual ingredient – self-raising flour.
I have to say, I was a little surprised and slightly skeptical when I first read the recipe… but when I tried out the recipe, I totally got it – adding flour is GENIUS! It gives these easy peasy flapjacks the most wonderful texture… so much better than standard flapjack texture, which always leaves me fearing for my teeth!
Super easy to make
These delicious coconut flapjacks are also super easy to make. All you need to do is melt butter, sugar and golden syrup in a large pan, over a low heat. Then, once melted, you simply add the oats, flour and coconut, and stir to combine. Finally, bake until golden brown, before cutting into squares and leaving them to set.
(Full step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below.)
What to serve with coconut flapjacks?
These Easy Coconut Flapjacks can be served hot or cold. They are delicious served on their own as a snack… but even better served warm with custard or vanilla ice cream!
Make them your own!
The recipe is wonderful just as it is… but if you want to take it to the next level, then I recommend adding chocolate chips. (Dark, milk or white all work well… but my preference is for dark chocolate chips – they go so well with the coconut!)
You could also add raisins, sultanas, dried apricots, dried cranberries, nuts or seeds… Or even a combination.
If you adapt this recipe and find a winning combination, I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments below.
How to store coconut flapjacks
Once cooled, I recommend storing these coconut flapjacks in an airtight container, such as a cake tin or a plastic food container.
How long will coconut flapjacks last?
Oooh – about 5 minutes!
Seriously, if you store the flapjacks in an airtight tin, they will keep for about a week… but they definitely taste at their best in the first 3-4 days.
Can you reheat coconut flapjacks?
Yes, you can. Simply place the flapjacks on a baking tray in your oven – preheated to 180C (160C fan / gas mark 4 / 350F) – for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through… but keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t burn!
Can you freeze coconut flapjacks?
Technically, you can, but I don’t recommend it. They definitely taste better made fresh!
If you like this recipe…
…you might also like:
Easy Coconut Flapjacks
Ingredients
- 225 g butter or margarine
- 225 g caster sugar
- 115 g golden syrup
- 340 g rolled oats
- 115 g self-raising flour
- 40 g desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180C / 160C fan / gas mark 4 / 350F.
- Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a large heavy based pan on the hob, over a low heat, stirring occasionally.
- When the butter has completely melted, turn the heat off and add the oats, flour and coconut. Stir to combine the wet and dry ingredients thoroughly.
- Tip the mixture into a brownie pan (roughly 23cm by 23cm / 9inch by 9inch, or similar – See Note 1).
- Bake in your preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and cut into 16 squares whilst still hot, then allow to cool.
- Use a fish slice to remove the squares once cooled and set.
- Delicious served on their own, or as a pudding with custard whilst still warm.
Notes
- So long as you use a good non-stick brownie pan, there should be no need to grease or line the brownie pan.
- Not suitable for freezing.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
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Vivien says
Hi can I cook the coconut flapjacks in an air fryer?
Eb Gargano says
I’m sorry, I don’t know. I down own an air fryer. But if you can cook similar things in an air fryer, then I imagine it will be fine.
Val says
I made the coconut flapjacks. Wow so easy to make and were absolutely fabulous. Getting ready for my next recipe to try, the Chocolate Tiffin.
Eb Gargano says
Yay – I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for this lovely review and especially the 5* rating 😀 Enjoy the tiffin!
Heidi says
Absolutely delicious! Can highly recommend, lovely and chewy 🙂
Eb Gargano says
Yay – that’s so great to hear! Thanks for this lovely review and especially the 5* rating 😀
Alana says
Any idea of a gluten-free alternative for the flour?
Eb Gargano says
I’ve never tested this with gluten free flour, so I can’t say for sure, but Dove’s Farm do a good self-raising flour.
Sarah says
Wow! So easy to make! My boyfriend ate 12 portions within 24 hours and pretended we had had visitors! 😂😂
Eb Gargano says
Haha – brilliant 😂😂 Great to hear you and your boyfriend enjoyed this so much!
Simon Greer says
You show cooking time 10-15 mins in recipe but 20 mins in heading? Which is the correct time?
Eb Gargano says
Cooking time in the heading is total cooking time – including melting the butter etc. The 10-15 minutes is the time in the oven. Hope that helps!
Christine Fisher says
Absolutely TERRIBLE for my diet as I can’t stop eating them!!!! These are the best flapjack I have EVER tasted!!!!
Eb Gargano says
Haha – I am sorry about your diet, but I am delighted you like these so much 😀
Katie says
Amazing flapjacks!
I actually only used half the sugar so they were a little more toddler friendly and they turned out great – and still plenty sweet enough. Loved the coconut. Definitely recommend.
I cooked mine in my air fryer on “bake 160” for 15 minutes. Perfect!
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thank you so much for this lovely review! Great to hear you liked them so much 😀