Scottish Carrot, Banana and Chocolate Chip Flapjacks

Soft, chewy Scottish flapjacks, made with oats, honey (or maple syrup), grated carrot and banana. It you are feeling naughty, add some chocolate chips.

Scottish Carrot, Banana and Chocolate Chip Flapjacks

I like to make flapjacks for my son's lunchbox, but I've not made any for a quite while.

I wanted to add either some fruit or veg to the flapjacks, so I had a look in the fridge and I spotted the carrots. I've also added banana to flapjacks before and knew that worked, but wanted to add a little chocolate, so I added some dark chocolate chips.

These are a twist on a traditional Scottish recipe.

Soft Chewy Flapjacks

The flapjacks were a hit.

Soft, chewy flapjacks with lots of flavour.

The carrots go slightly caramelised, which is an added bonus and the banana flavour is there, but not overpowering.

I also added some spices to the mix.

At the planning stage they were looking pretty healthy.

Honey, oats, carrots and banana, but you know me, I just couldn't resist adding some chocolate chips. Mmmmmmmm!

Of course if you don't have honey or if you want to make these vegan, then you can use maple syrup instead of honey.

These flapjacks are so easy, so quick and such a great sweet tasting snack to give you an energy boost, but at the same time very satisfying too.

Porridge Oats

The main ingredient in these snack bars is porridge oats, which slowly release energy to keep you going longer.

When choosing the oats for these flapjacks, go for porridge oats, the regular type you use for making your breakfast porridge.

Oatmeal is too fine and jumbo oats are too big and don't bind well or give you that chewy texture.

For more Scottish recipes have a look at my recipe index of Scottish Recipes for Vegans and Vegetarians

Bananas

Mashed banana is added to these flapjacks. 

It helps to make them chewy, adds extra nutrients and helps to bind them.

You are looking for a ripe banana for this dish.

Bananas are full of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C and magnesium.

Carrots

I added a grated carrot to these flapjacks for more nutrients.

Carrots can be added to lots of sweet bakes including carrot cake, brownies, blondies, cookies and flapjacks.

As a bonus they turn a bit caramel like at the edges.

Carrots provide lots of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6.

Dark Chocolate Chips

Now you don't have to add chocolate chips, but that wee bite of chocolate scattered through these flapjacks elevate them from bog standard Scottish flapjacks.

Of course you could skip them.

I say add them, but choose good quality dark chocolate chips which are much healthier than milk chocolate chips which also contain milk, sugar and sometimes oil.

Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and has a good amount of iron, copper, maganese, potassium and zinc.

Why are flapjacks so good?

1. They are chewy
2. They are relatively healthy compared to other snack or oat bars
3. They give you slow released energy thanks to the oats
4. They are easy to make
5. They store well
6. They are great in lunchboxes
7. They are great with a cup of coffee
8. They are perfect if you are hillwalking
9. They are easy to pack
10. They won't get squashed in your pocket 
11. They are child friendly
12. They are super tasty

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Reader's Recipes

A lot of my readers get in touch with me on social media or by email to let me know they are trying my recipes and enjoying them.

Some of them are kind enough to share photos too.

Today one of my readers, Cheryl White @minnetteawdean kindly shared a photo of these carrot flapjacks. She made a nice tweak and added walnuts instead of chocolate chips. Tasty!

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baking

Scottish

Yield: 16 flapjacks

Author: Jacqueline Meldrum

Scottish Carrot, Banana and Chocolate Chip Flapjacks

Soft, chewy flapjacks, made with oats, honey, grated carrot and banana. It you are feeling naughty, add some chocolate chips.

prep time: 10 Mcook time: 25 Mtotal time: 35 M

ingredients:

• 115g/½ cups butter (or dairy free spread)
• 5 tbsp runny honey (or maple syrup)
• 250g/2½ cups oats
• ½ banana
• 1 carrot, grated (approx. 25g /1/2 cup)
• 100g/ ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger

instructions:

How to cook Scottish Carrot, Banana and Chocolate Chip Flapjacks

1. Heat the oven to gas mark 3/325f/160c/140c fan.
2. Grease a tray or brownie pan.
3. In a large bowl mix together the oats, chocolate chips and spices.
4. Mash your half banana until it is squidgy and soft.
5. In a small pan, melt together the butter and honey and then mix in the banana and grated carrot.
6. Leave the melted butter mixture to cool slightly and then mix into the oats. If you pour it in too soon, the chocolate chips will just melt into goo.
7. Bake for 25 minutes. Take out near the end and test with your finger, it should be slightly springy if you want a chewy flapjack. Leave it in longer if you want a crisper flapjack.
8. Cut into 16 squares while still warm, then leave to cool in the pan.
9. Enjoy!

NOTES:

These will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
The chocolate chips are optional.

Calories
152.67

Fat (grams)
8.25

Sat. Fat (grams)
4.77

Carbs (grams)
18.51

Fiber (grams)
1.95

Net carbs
16.56

Sugar (grams)
8.59

Protein (grams)
2.08

Sodium (milligrams)
49.65

Cholesterol (grams)
15.67

Created using The Recipes Generator