These healthy no bake flapjacks are an ideal anytime snack - enjoy them for breakfast on the go, pop them in your lunchbox, or enjoy as a healthy tea time treat. No cook flapjacks means they are very quick to make, and there's just a few store cupboard ingredients. Delicious peanut butter oat bars with a satisfying chewy texture, they'll also keep you feeling full until your next meal.
I've been making healthy flapjacks for years, and there's several recipes on this blog.
These include apple flapjacks, banana flapjacks, chocolate, rhubarb, pear.... Often I pop the flapjack mixture in the oven as the dinner comes out.
However, I don't always want to switch the oven on. Sometimes I'm in too much of a rush and it also saves on energy bills. That's when these no bake flapjacks are ideal.
Slightly chewy, these oatmeal bars hold together really well and are every bit as delicious as a conventional recipe.
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What you'll love about the recipe
- No cook flapjacks are easy to make in 10 minutes and are ready to eat in less than half an hour.
- Low sugar compared to most flapjack recipes, these no bake flapjacks are made with just a little honey.
- Peanut butter gives a satisfying richness, and means that you can make these delicious raw flapjacks without butter.
- They are a healthy snack. Not only are they butter free and sugar free, the oats are actively good for you. Oats are a wholegrain and are packed with soluble fibre which is good for your digestion and your heart.
- Gluten free (use GF certified oats), dairy free and vegan (use maple syrup not honey for a raw vegan bar).
- No bake flapjacks are ideal for lunchboxes (use sunflower seed butter if you need them to be nut free) and picnics. They are also a great healthy after school snack.
Ingredients
You'll just need a few nutritious store cupboard ingredients for this recipe.
Oats. You'll need porridge or rolled oats for this healthy no bake flapjacks recipe. Jumbo oats won't stick together quite so well, and instant oats are too powdery.
Make sure to use certified gluten free oats if needed (they'll have been processed separately from other grains.)
Peanut butter. No bake peanut butter flapjacks have a lovely fudgy richness. Peanut butter also helps the mixture to stick together. Use smooth or crunchy as you prefer.
You could also use another nut butter.
If you want no bake flapjacks that are nut free, use sunflower seed butter or tahini.
Coconut oil. Use refined coconut oil if you don't want a coconut flavour. Virgin coconut oil works in the recipe but will have a distinct taste of coconut.
If you prefer you can use butter or vegan butter.
Honey or maple syrup adds some sweetness. You could also add another liquid sweetener such as agave syrup, or date paste. I prefer not to use golden syrup as it is a more refined sugar.
Chopped nuts or seeds. These are optional, but will add a little extra crunch and nutritious healthy fats.
How to make no bake flapjacks
Start by preparing a baking tin approximately 20 x 10cm. As the oatmeal bars are not baked, you can use a plastic container that's about the same size.
If you want to use a round container, use one about 15cm in diameter. Put some baking paper on the bottom and lightly grease the sides.
Mix the peanut butter, coconut oil and honey together. Unless it's a really warm day, it's easiest to do this in a pan over a low heat. Remove from the heat as soon as the mixture has melted.
Or if you prefer, microwave the mixture for a few seconds.
Add the oats and nuts/seeds if using and mix well.
Tip the mixture into the prepared baking tin, and flatten with the back of a spoon. Then use your fingers to press the mixture down firmly, including the edges and corners.
Chill in the fridge for an hour to allow the mixture to firm up. If you're in a hurry, pop it in the freezer for 15 minutes instead.
Using a sharp knife, cut into 6 pieces, or more if you want mini no bake flapjack bites.
Trying serving with some healthy iced coffee, or iced rooibos tea.
Storage
Store no bake flapjacks in an airtight container for up to a week. If your kitchen is really hot, you can store them in the fridge, otherwise room temperature is fine.
These healthy oat bars are also freezer friendly so you might want to double the recipe quantity. Place in an airtight container with greaseproof paper between layers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Expert tips
You can easily adapt this recipe with variations to suit your taste
- Add half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract will add a little extra sweetness
- Switch out the nuts for your favourite dried fruit
- Add a quarter cup of dark chocolate chips to make more indulgent no bake chocolate flapjacks. Or you could drizzle the top with some melted dark chocolate
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there's nothing in uncooked flapjack that will cause you any harm. But it's best to use a specific recipe to make no bake flapjacks so that they turn out the right texture and hold together well.
In the UK and several other countries, a flapjack is an oat bar. A British flapjack is basically an oatmeal cookie held together with a mix of butter, syrup and sugar, or healthier alternatives. Usually flapjacks are baked in the oven, but you can also get no cook flapjacks. In the US, flapjack is sometimes used to refer to pancakes. A granola bar is also similar, but granola bars tend to be crunchier in texture.
Other no bake healthy snacks
If you don't want to switch the oven on, there's plenty more no bake healthy treats so you don't have to miss out.
For a simple baked flapjack recipe, why not try these healthy honey flapjacks with no refined sugar?
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Recipe
Healthy No Bake Flapjacks
Equipment
- 10 x 20cm baking tray or a similar size plastic container
Ingredients
- 120 g porridge or rolled oats GF if required
- 2 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter or vegan butter
- 3 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 20 g seeds or chopped nuts optional
Instructions
- Line the base of a 10 x 20cm baking tin or container with greaseproof or baking paper. Lightly grease the sides of the tin.
- Melt the peanut butter, honey and coconut oil together in pan over a low heat. Remove from the heat as soon as the mixture has melted. You could also do this in brief bursts in the microwave if you prefer.
- Add the oats and nuts/seeds if using. Mix together well.
- Tip the mixture into the lined baking tray. Level with the back of a spoon, and then squish down firmly with your fingers.
- Chill the flapjack mixture. If you're in a hurry you can chill in the freezer for 15 minutes, otherwise chill for at least an hour in the fridge.
Notes
- For vegan no bake flapjacks, use maple syrup or another liquid sweetener.
- For nut free flapjacks, use sunflower seed butter or tahini.
Nutrition
Please note nutritional information is per serving and is provided for guidance only. Excludes optional nuts or seeds.
Sally Lock says
I turned my Aga off as it's too hot for my dogs - flapjacks are my signature bake - so this recipe is a perfect one as an alternative to my baked ones - I added some dry fried nuts and seeds and some chopped dates too - yum!
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you, that sounds delicious - I love dates too!
Annabel says
totally delicious, especially with the peanut butter. me and my daughter will be making these regularly!
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you Annabel, that's really lovely to hear!
Cazaline says
Honey isn't vegan, you will want to edit it in notes section to say maple syrup. Delicious
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you:) I've corrected that now.