Chewy Peanut Butter Flapjacks are one of our favourite classic British baked goods.
This healthy Vegetarian Flapjacks recipe is perfect for those looking to bake Gluten Free Flapjacks or Dairy Free Flapjacks. They’re packed with protein!
These traditional quick & easy English oat bars are baked in the oven then sliced into squares or rectangles. The snack recipe features simple, affordable and accessible ingredients.
The homemade dessert recipe features flavourful ingredients like Medjool dates, peanut butter, egg whites, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, rolled oats and peanuts.
Save this story to Pinterest!
What Are Gluten Free Flapjacks?
A flapjack is a baked bar, cooked in a flat baking tin and cut into squares or rectangles, made from rolled oats, fat, brown sugar and usually corn syrup.
The snack is similar to the North American granola bar, and in the United States and most of Canada the term flapjack is a widely-known but lesser-used term for pancake.
The Oxford Dictionary records the word flapjack as being used as early as the beginning of the 16th century. In England, the term “flap” refers to a flat cake while “Jack” refers to an ordinary, or common, man (an “average Joe”). The centuries-old pastry was popular with common folk; unadorned with simple, affordable and accessible ingredients.
Flapjacks can be made with any flavour combination your heart desires, such as dried fruits, nuts, toffee, chocolate, jam in the center or slathered with icing or dark chocolate.
We’ve taken Britain’s classic chewy oat bar recipe and adjusted the ingredients to make them gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian. Honey has been substituted for corn syrup, creamy peanut butter adds fat instead of butter and egg whites and dates help give the flapjacks their shape.
Travel to the Britain by Baking Peanut Butter Flapjacks at Home
I love traveling to Europe!
During my first visit to the continent I traveled for 5 months by train and plane. I had the opportunity to eat my way through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey and Italy.
What I love most about traveling to the United Kingdom is the opportunity to sample unique dishes in each region and city. The dishes in London are unique to what you’d find in Belfast, Hampshire, Brighton, Southampton, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Skye or Islay.
If you’re visiting Britain on holiday you’ll find Gluten Free Flapjacks available for purchase at local cafes, coffee shops and bakeries. Enjoy a slice with your morning tea or coffee, or as a healthy snack in the afternoon before dinner.
Once back home from a British holiday you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the flavours of the United Kingdom and can impress friends and family by making our chewy Peanut Butter Flapjacks at home.
Where To Eat Vegetarian Peanut Butter Flapjacks
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local British restaurant, bakery, cafe or pastry shop that serves delicious Dairy Free Flapjacks.
Vegetarian Flapjacks can typically be found in a bakeries display case, alongside sweets like muffins, cookies, cakes and pies.
In Toronto you may find Peanut Butter Flapjacks at British restaurants or bakeries such as The Queen and Beaver, Caledonian, Old Curiosity Tea Shop, House on Parliament, The Oxley, British Pride Bakery, The British Grocer, and Little Bit of Britain.
My Family Loves Chewy Peanut Butter Flapjacks
My family loves baking!
Both sides of my family trace their heritage back to England, Scotland and Ireland.
My paternal grandmother always had shortbread cookies in the house and I fondly enjoyed nibbling on them while sipping a hot pot of tea whenever I had the chance to visit.
At the dinner table we’d also enjoy British culinary delights like Welsh Rarebit, Leeks in Cheese Sauce, Old School Cheese and Onion Pie and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
My family has always enjoyed the versatility of British Flapjacks. We have transformed the classic chewy oat bars into a healthier snack alternative by using peanut butter, egg white, dates and honey instead of corn syrup, brown sugar and butter.
Since my family loves peanuts I knew they’d enjoy these nut infused Gluten Free Flapjacks. They’re the perfect quick & easy on the go breakfast or post-workout snack. Or serve a slice at your next afternoon tea party.
Vegetarian Flapjacks Health Benefits
Our Peanut Butter Flapjacks recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Dates contain healthy vitamins and minerals. They are also fat-free and cholesterol-free, high in antioxidants, and an excellent source of fibre.
Peanuts are rich in protein, fat, and fibre. While peanuts may have a large amount of fat, most of the fats they contain are known as “good fats.”
Eggs contain two vital nutrients that are not present in many foods: iodine and vitamin D. Eggs are also rich in tissue-building protein and vitamin B12, which helps your body manufacture blood cells.
Rich in energy-boosting manganese, cinnamon is also antibacterial and may protect your brain against Alzheimer’s disease.
Nutmeg is said to relieve pain, soothe indigestion, strengthen cognitive function, detoxify the body, boost skin health, reduce insomnia, increase immune system function and improve blood circulation.
Proving more soluble fibre than any other grain, oats also contain slow-release, low-GI carbohydrates. Oats are also rich in beta-glucan, which helps reduce high cholesterol and maintain blood sugar levels, and vitamin B1, which helps your body convert food into energy.
Peanut Butter Flapjacks Baking Tips
Peanut Butter Flapjacks are fun to make at home. We’ve included a few tips for first time British bakers!
- We suggest using a rectangular or square cake pan when baking Gluten Free Flapjacks.
- We suggest using a food processor to easily blend the liquid ingredients.
- Use a palette knife to smooth out the top of the flapjacks before baking them in the oven.
- We’ve used Medjool Dates in this recipe but you could substitute for other dried fruits like raisins or figs.
- We’ve used honey in this recipe but you could substitute for maple syrup.
- We’ve used whole oats in this recipe but you could use quick oats.
- If you want to make the recipe a bit more decadent feel free to add chocolate chips.
What To Serve with Gluten Free Flapjacks
We love serving Peanut Butter Flapjacks as a quick & easy on the go breakfast, coffee break snack, slice at afternoon tea or late night dessert.
The recipe can be enjoyed year round and is a particularly nice addition to a Father’s Day brunch or as part of a Thanksgiving dessert table.
Since these Peanut Butter Flapjacks are nutty, we suggest pairing them with lighter desserts like a creamy mousse, berry shortcake or fruit salad.
You can also prepare a Gluten Free Flapjacks Sundae by serving a slice in a bowl with a scoop of your favourite ice cream, roasted nuts and fresh fruit.
You May Also Enjoy Baking…
- Festive Fresh Fig Frangipane Pistachio Tartlets
- Caribbean Coconut Rum Banana Bread Bundt Cake
- Blueberry Lemon Muffin Tops
- Sweet Lebanese Sesame Tahini Rolls
- Swedish Ricotta Oatmeal Rhubarb Bars
- Moist Baileys Banoffee Cake
- Swedish Rhubarb Cherry Pie
- Skittles Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
- Chewy Easter Toffee Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars
- Turmeric Pumpkin Spice Indian Cake
- Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
- Gevulde Speculaas Dutch Cherry Almond Spice Cookies
- Kardemummabullar Swedish Cardamom Buns
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins
- Jordgubbstårta Swedish Strawberry Meringue Cake
How To Make Gluten Free Peanut Butter Flapjacks
Vegetarian Gluten Free Peanut Butter Flapjacks
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Cake Pan
- mixing bowl
- Small Pot
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups Medjool Dates pitted
- 2/3 cups Water
- 1 cup Peanut Butter
- 3 Large Egg Whites
- 2/3 cup Honey
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 6 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cup Peanuts chopped
Instructions
- Place the dates in a saucepan with the water and simmer until softened and the water has been absorbed. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line a 12 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Blend the dates, peanut butter, egg whites, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in the oats and chopped peanuts until they are well coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press down firmly. Bake for about 30 minutes until golden. Let cool in the pan, then cut into 16 triangles.
- Store for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not freeze.
Nutrition
Some of the links in this story use affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through our site, Dobbernationloves will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us to produce comprehensive content.
Save this story to Pinterest!
