Microwave Flapjacks

 If you are a fan of chewy and soft flapjacks then this is the recipe for you.  Using the microwave has the advantage of only using 10 minutes cooking time - thus saving fuel; but also means that there are less crunchy corners to break your teeth on.  Flapjacks also have the advantage that they are cheap, don't require flour which makes them both gluten free and something we can get hold of the ingredients for (2020 being a year when the whole country seemingly stockpiled flour and kept it next to the toilet roll mountain), and they are easy to vary.  This recipe won't save you money on ingredients versus the supermarkets but will stop the trip to the shop where you can be tempted into spending money.

Microwave Flapjacks - makes 9-16 depending on size.

100g butter (not spreadable)

75 g sugar (preferably light brown but use what you have)

2 tbsp golden syrup (or if you have scales that measure in ml then 30 ml)

200g porridge oats

For this you need a square microwavable dish, it should be able to fit on the turntable comfortably and still allow it to turn.  Lightly grease the tin as flapjacks are notorious for sticking to the tin.

We now all you need to do melt the butter then add it to all the other ingredients.  Choose your own method, saucepan, double boiler or microwave.  Stir it all together until everything is well coated.

Tip into the tin and press down with the back of a spoon.

Cook on high for about 5 minutes (more powerful microwaves may take slightly less).  The flapjack will still be soft but will harden up when left to cool.

Once cold slice into squares and serve.

Variations:

Variations can be with the filling or go to town on the decoration.

First the fillings...

Add dried fruit (up to about 50 g) this could be cranberries, apricots, sultanas, dried mixed peel, apples, mango etc. anything except banana chips (too crunchy), for the bigger fruit chop small first.  Could be a combo or your favourite flavour.

Add chopped nuts - again choose you favourite or use a mixture, even coconut can be used

Add seeds- OK so a slight nod towards energy bars (not that flapjacks could ever be healthy!) but seeds such as sesame, linseed, pumpkin, sunflower all add a nice flavour

Add chocolate- use chips or use a cheap bar chopped into chunks as a more budget friendly version. (Yep that's me folks)

Add smarties to the mixture (if they work in smartie cookies why not here)

Add crystallised ginger chopped up.

Add orange zest

Use honey instead of golden syrup

Toppings:

Add chocolate, any flavour and drizzle over the top or dunk

Add sprinkles or other cake decoration on top of the melted chocolate

Add a sprinkle of seeds or coconut or nuts.  Press into the surface of the flapjack whilst warm and soft.

Add caramel and then chocolate millionaires shortbread style.

Cost for one basic batch 

oats = 16p

butter= 60p

sugar=20p

Syrup=8p 

total = £1.04 per batch (prices from Tesco online website)

Although I think that I should declare that if you can still get to the supermarket then the Miss Molly's flapjack is also sold by Tesco for 80p for a similar weight.  There is no law that says that you couldn't use this as a base and have fun decorating that with the kids either...Hopefully you do not find yourselves in the position where that 24p matters...