Flapjacks are oat-based bars, traditionally made with butter and therefore not historically a vegan food. They often have golden syrup added too.
One of the earliest known references to flapjacks in the UK is in one of Shakespeare’s plays, so we have been talking about flapjacks since at least the 16th or 17th century!1
Whether the flapjacks of those times resembled ours, or quite what the ingredients were, we do not know. But we have been enjoying oat flapjacks, as we know them now, for decades at least.
And with a wealth of dairy-free alternatives now available to transform traditionally dairy-laden recipes into vegan ones, it is a great time to get into vegan baking!
In terms of diets, vegans do not consume any meat, fish, dairy, honey, eggs, gelatine or any other animal-derived products.
So when it comes to common flapjack ingredients, this means no butter, milk or honey.
Be careful to check for any dairy in chocolate, if you are making vegan chocolate flapjacks.
Oats do not contain gluten per se, but often oats are produced, processed or packaged alongside other grains such as wheat or barley, which can contaminate the oats with gluten.2
If you are seeking a gluten free option, then, to be absolutely sure, you can include gluten free oats in this recipe.
These oats are certified and tested, to confirm that they have not been contaminated with any gluten. You can shop from our wide range of oats at Holland & Barrett.
Whether you are using gluten free oats or not, choose the same oats that you would use for porridge. These are “traditional” or rolled oats, and they have the best taste and texture for flapjacks.
We have chosen this easy vegan flapjack recipe, and substituted the butter for dairy-free spread.
It is similar in style to a traditional flapjack, and so it does contain sugar and golden syrup.
If you are looking for a super healthy flapjack recipe then this may not be for you!
However, it is worth noting you will still get the health benefits of oats with this recipe. A banana flapjack recipe, can be a healthier alternative using no sugar at all, and the sweetness comes from the ripe mashed bananas.
This recipe makes 12-16 flapjack squares.
If that sounds like too much, rest assured that these vegan flapjacks will keep in an airtight container for a few days, or you can also store them for longer in the freezer.
Simple oat flapjacks like these can be adapted in many different ways.
Fancy a chocolate flapjack? Try swapping the fruit for chocolate pieces, or drizzling some melted chocolate on the top.
You can also add up to 50g of cocoa powder to the flapjack mix for your chocolate fix.
If you are looking for more balanced nutrition, then perhaps swap some of the nuts or fruit for some toasted seeds.
For those times when you simply do not want to bake at all, or fear that making a big batch of flapjacks is not a good idea (it can be hard to resist that airtight storage container!), shop our flapjacks here.
Last updated: 7 May 2021
Joined Holland & Barrett: Aug 2020
Master’s Degree in Food Science and Technology Engineering and BSc in Dietetics
Andrea started her career as a clinical dietitian and lecturer at a university hospital, managing the dietetic treatment of patients with various diseases, and giving lectures in nutrition for medical students.
Later she worked as a Product Developer at a sport nutrition company where she developed food supplements and fortified foods, and ensured that the products complied with the relevant regulations.