These healthy honey flapjacks have no refined sugar or golden syrup. They are very quick and easy to make with only 3 basic store-cupboard ingredients. Healthy, refined-sugar-free honey flapjacks are a popular choice for adults and children, and are ideal for lunch boxes, bake sales, and healthy snacking.
Recipe Summary: Healthy Honey Flapjacks (no refined sugar or syrup)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Key ingredients: rolled oats, honey, butter
Nutritional highlights: wholegrain oats, no refined sugar, unprocessed ingredients
Allergy info: Nut-free, egg-free, easily made gluten-free and dairy-free
Convenience: Quick and easy to make and store well
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Why make flapjacks with honey instead of golden syrup?
- These healthy honey flapjacks (or oat bars) are naturally sweetened and flavoured with honey. There's no refined sugar and no golden syrup in the recipe
- The flapjacks are chewy in the middle with slightly crisp edges, and they hold together well. They are rich with the delicious flavour of honey
- Made with healthy wholegrain oats which are high in fibre and help to stabilise blood sugar and protect your heart
- Healthy honey flapjacks have just 10 minutes prep time
- A simple, basic oat bar recipe that you can easily vary with your favourite add-ins
- Easy to make gluten-free, and dairy-free. These healthy honey flapjacks are also egg-free and nut-free.
Ingredients
There are just 3 wholesome store-cupboard ingredients in this easy honey flapjack recipe.
Oats. Porridge oats, rolled oats or old fashioned oats are all suitable for this healthy honey flapjack recipe.
Avoid using jumbo oats, as I have found that they don't stick together so well and make the flapjacks too crumbly.
If you want gluten-free honey flapjacks, use oats which are certified gluten-free. They are processed separately from other grains to ensure they don't become contaminated and are suitable for coeliacs.
Honey. You can use either set or runny honey to make naturally sweetened, refined sugar-free flapjacks. The honey is melted in the recipe and is an alternative to the golden syrup used in traditional recipes. It is less processed and less sugary sweet.
Butter. If you are using unsalted butter, add a tiny pinch of salt to the recipe to help bring out the flavour. You can easily make a dairy-free honey flapjack by using a vegan block.
Optional ingredients and variations
These simple sugar-free flapjacks can easily be adapted with your favourite ingredients. Here are a few suggestions:
- For healthy cinnamon and honey flapjacks, add half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. You could also use mixed spice, or a pinch of grated nutmeg or cinnamon.
- For a raisin and honey flapjack recipe, add 80g of raisins to the mixture. Or try dried apricots or other dried fruits. Dried fruits add further sweetness without the need for sugar or golden syrup.
- Honey and nuts are a classic combination. Add 80g of whichever chopped nuts you prefer. Or try sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead if you want to add extra crunch without nuts.
You can also make refined sugar-free flapjacks with dates.
How to make healthy honey flapjacks
This easy recipe is ready to go in the oven in just a few minutes.
Line a 18 x 18cm baking tray with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees (140 fan).
Add the butter and honey to a pan and place on a low heat until melted. Remove from the heat as soon as it has melted so that the mixture doesn't start to caramelise.
If you prefer you can melt the butter and honey in short bursts in a microwave.
Stir in the oats and any optional ingredients that you are using. Mix well to ensure all the oats are fully coated in the honey and butter mixture.
Spoon the mixture into the lined baking tray. Push down firmly over the whole surface to ensure that the mixture is compacted. This is essential to ensure that the flapjacks hold together well.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. The baked flapjacks will still feel slightly soft to the touch, but will firm up as they cool down.
Remove from the oven. If you like, you can mark the flapjacks into squares or slices whilst still warm, but allow the mixture to cool fully before cutting them.
Once cool, remove from the tin and cut into 12 slices. I find that they slice best when using a light sawing action with a serrated bread knife.
Recipe tips (which stop flapjacks falling apart!)
- Use the right type of oats to make honey flapjacks with the perfect texture that won't fall apart. Instant oats are too powdery, and both steel cut and jumbo oats make the flapjacks too crumbly. Use rolled oats, which are sometimes called porridge oats.
- Ensure that you physically press the flapjack together in the baking tray to make the mixture stick together. Noone likes a crumbly flapjack which falls apart!
- Don't overbake your flapjacks, or they'll be too crumbly. Remember, they'll firm up more as they cool down.
- Always allow the flapjacks to cool in the tin before cutting them so that they slice cleanly. If you are short on time, pop the tray in the fridge to speed up cooling.
Storage
Healthy honey flapjacks without golden syrup will store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap well or seal in an airtight container.
Honey oat bars are great in lunchboxes, and the slow-release energy from oats is also good as a pre-exercise energy bar or after-school snack.
Frequently asked questions
Golden syrup is a refined sugar syrup often used in baking. If you'd like to avoid refined sugar, you can use honey instead of golden syrup in flapjacks. Or if you'd prefer, you can also make flapjacks with maple syrup. Use a specific recipe which has been tested with honey to ensure your flapjacks turn out well.
Traditional flapjacks are made with a lot of butter and sugar. These refined sugar-free flapjacks use honey instead, but they should still be eaten in moderation. Honey is a form of sugar, and the recipe still has quite high levels of saturated fat.
For a healthy flapjack recipe that is lower in fat and natural sugars, try these banana flapjacks with honey, or apple flapjacks with honey. In both of these recipes, fruit replaces most of the fat and sugar in the ingredients.
I'd suggest you leave the proportions in this recipe unchanged (unless it's a simple switch to vegan butter). Instead, use a recipe with nut butter (peanut butter flapjacks or almond butter flapjacks) or make fruit-based flapjacks with banana or apple.
Other healthy flapjack recipes you might like
You can browse the collection of healthy flapjack recipes, which are all made without refined sugar.
Or take your pick from the selection below. Healthy no-bake flapjacks are very quick and easy to make, and there are lots of fruit-based flapjack recipes which are naturally sweetened.
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Recipe
Healthy Honey Flapjacks (No Refined Sugar or Syrup)
Equipment
- 18 x 18cm baking tray
- baking paper
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 200 g porridge oats
- 100 g butter or vegan butter
- 100 ml honey
Instructions
- Line a 18 x 18cm baking tray with baking paper.
- Preheat the oven to 160 degrees (140 fan).
- Add the honey and butter to a saucepan and place on a low heat. As soon as the mixture has melted, remove from the heat.100 g butter, 100 ml honey
- Add the oats to the pan and stir well until thoroughly mixed.200 g porridge oats
- Tip the mixture into the prepared baking tray. Spread out evenly, and press down very firmly with the back of a spoon. This is important to ensure that the flapjacks hold together well.
- Bake at 160 degrees (140 fan) for 20 minutes.
- Allow the flapjacks to cool in the tin. Then remove from the tin and cut into 12 pieces.
Notes
-
- For cinnamon and honey flapjacks, add half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. You could also use mixed spice, or a pinch of grated nutmeg or cinnamon.
-
- For a raisin and honey flapjack recipe, add 80g of raisins to the mixture. Or try dried apricots or other dried fruits.
-
- Honey and nut is a classic combination. Add 80g of whichever chopped nuts you prefer. Or try sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead.
Nutrition
Please note nutritional information is per serving and is provided for guidance only.
Rosalind Mitchell says
Are these ok for diabetics
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi, I should preface this answer by saying I can't give specific medical or nutritional advice. But I've looked at the Diabetes UK website, and they have many recipes with a lot more added sugar than this honey flapjacks recipe. According to Diabetes UK, this would be classified as a low-sugar recipe as it has less than 10g of sugar per serving.
Emma says
How long do these keep?
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi, they'll store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Maylita Edwards says
I've made these 2 times now. They're so easy to make and delicious! Amazing recipe.
E says
Is it 160 degrees fan oven or electric?
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi that's the temperature for a conventional oven setting, the temperature for a fan oven is 140 degrees. Thanks for pointing that out, I'll amend the recipe card now.
Jane says
Is this butter or peanut butter? No PB in the ingredient list?
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you for spotting that! It should be butter, I've corrected it now.
Lelbel says
Can you freeze these honey flapjacks?
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi, yes they'll freeze well. Pop them in an airtight container or bag and defrost at room temperature.