Looking for a healthier flapjack or oat bar? Here you'll find easy homemade recipes made with wholesome ingredients including wholegrain oats, fruit, nuts and seeds. Reader favourites include these healthy honey flapjacks without golden syrup, and healthy banana flapjacks.
I've developed and tested all of these recipes myself, and healthy flapjacks have been a staple part of our diet for many years.
Healthy flapjacks and oat bars are ideal for lunchboxes and healthy snacks. Many can also be enjoyed as an easy breakfast on-the-go.
You might also like to browse healthy cookies and biscuit recipes.
Why these flapjacks are healthier
These healthy flapjack recipes are all refined sugar free, and made with lower levels of saturated fat than traditional recipes.
Are these flapjacks Gluten free?
All these flapjacks are naturally gluten free because they are made wholly with oats rather than wheat flour. However oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing so if you are making the recipes for someone that needs to avoid gluten, choose oats that are certified gluten free.
For a specific recipe developed without any gluten containing ingredients, see my gluten free flapjacks recipe.
Fruit flapjacks and oat bars
Fruit is a great way to add natural sweetness, flavour and extra fibre to homemade flapjacks and oat bars. From healthy apple and banana flapjacks, to fruity blueberry, strawberry, pear and rhubarb versions, these recipes are an easy way to enjoy a healthier homemade snack. You'll also find oat slices made with naturally sweet dried fruit including dates and apricots.
Nut, seed and chocolate flapjacks
For a richer and more indulgent tasting flapjack, try one of these recipes made with nuts, seeds, chocolate or coconut. Peanut and almond butter add flavour and a satisfying texture, while chia seeds and coconut bring something a little different. And if you're looking for a healthier chocolate treat, there's a chocolate flapjack here too!
Flapjacks with a twist - no bake, oat free and more
Looking for something a little different? These flapjacks and oat bars include easy, no-bake versions, naturally sweetened recipes and quinoa alternatives to traditional oat-based flapjacks. Try a little honey or maple syrup for sweetness or enjoy these muesli bars as a hearty snack.
Frequently asked questions
Flapjacks can be a nutritious snack when they are made with wholesome ingredients but traditional versions can contain a lot of added sugar and butter. These recipes use wholegrain oats and other nutritious ingredients and are made without refined sugar. Some use fruit, nuts or seeds which add flavour, fibre and other nutrients.
Yes. These Cinnamon and Kale recipes are naturally sweetened with ingredients such as fruit, dates, honey and maple syrup. Whilst these are still a form of sugar, they contain additional nutrients and are used in lower quantities than the sugar in traditional flapjack recipes.
You can use natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup as an alternative to golden syrup. As well as being unrefined, they add a delicious flavour.
There's a considerable overlap between these terms so there's no real definitive answer. However, I think oat bars is a little broader in it's definition. Some of the oat bars or slices on Cinnamon and Kale include a thick fruity filling which is sandwiched between 2 oat layers - such as this date and oat slice.
