Packed full of nutritious ingredients, these Chocolate Coconut Flapjacks make a delicious, healthy and filling snack for the whole family!
With an abundance of information at our fingertips about food, nutrition and healthy eating it’s no wonder that so many of us feel a little overwhelmed when it comes to feeding ourselves and our families.
Having resources available to us is great, but sometime too much information can be baffling! Especially when we are bombarded by mixed messages about what is healthy or not.
Are flapjacks healthy?
Flapjacks are one particular food which gets a lot of people confused. Often labelled “healthy” or “natural” most packaged flapjacks are actually far from nutritious.
Food brands will use the fact that flapjacks contain oats to push their health food claims. But they often conveniently forget to mention the amount of refined sugars and highly processed oils or margarines that are also present.
However, made at home with more natural ingredients, flapjacks can be fantastic.
They make a great high-energy snacks for kids or an easy grab-and-go breakfast for busy adults.
This recipe is free from refined sugar, instead using date syrup to sweeten the mixture. It is also vegan friendly as I replaced the butter with coconut oil.
I’ve kept the actual oat base of the flapjack pretty plain, only mixing some desiccated coconut into it.
But you can add chopped nuts or dried fruit to it too, or even leave the coconut out if you prefer.
When deciding what type of chocolate to top the flapjacks with, remember that the higher the cocoa content of chocolate, (usually!) the lower the sugar and milk solids content. I’ve used 70% cocoa chocolate in this recipe.
The addition of the coconut oil helps to sweeten the chocolate a little but if you are making these flapjacks for kids then maybe it would be best to start with a lower percentage chocolate and gradually build up.
Chocolate Coconut Flapjacks
Prep Time: 5 mins- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 8 1x
Category: Dessert / Snack
Method: Baked
Cuisine: European- Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A healthy gluten free and vegan flapjack recipe, made using coconut oil and date syrup
Ingredients
- For the flapjacks:
- 100g / 1.25 cups rolled oats (use certified gluten free if necessary)
- 3 tbsp desiccated coconut
- 2 tbsp nut butter (I used cashew nut butter)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 tbsp date syrup (can use maple syrup or honey instead)
- For the chocolate topping:
- 100g / 4oz dark chocolate (use vegan chocolate if necessary)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180c/350f. Grease a baking tin or dish. I used an 8inch x 8inch square dish.
- Mix the oats and desiccated coconut together in a bowl.
- Heat the nut butter, coconut oil and date syrup in a saucepan over a medium heat. Keep stirring until the mixture is entirely melted and combined. Pour over the oats and desiccated coconut and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish and cook for 15 minutes, or until the edges of the mixture begin to brown. Allow the mixture to cool. You can put the dish in the fridge to speed this up.
- Place the chocolate and coconut oil together in a saucepan over a medium heat and stir continuously until they have melted. Be sure not to burn the chocolate. Pour the melted chocolate over the oats and allow it to cool once again.
- Once the chocolate has cooled and set, cut the flapjack mixture into 8 pieces.
- The flapjacks will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Laurie says
We love these, i double up on ingredients and put flaxseed and chia seeds for extra nutrients. Just wondering if you can freeze the butter/honey mix as ive made way too much?
★★★★★
Vicky says
Hi Laurie, Unfortunately honey doesn’t freeze very well, so we would advise not to. Great that you love this recipe. Can you please share your creations with us on our Facebook or Instagram page, we love seeing them.
Faye Davies says
Love these and so do my kids! Has anyone tried them using agave instead of maple syrup?
★★★★★
Sophia says
I always go back to these. Such good flavour.
Emma T says
Love the addition of the coconut. These tasted so much nicer than my usual shop bought one and the kids demolished theirs!
★★★★★
Dave says
Looks delicious! Can I freeze these?
Adriana says
I waa going to male my first flapjack ever and recently I was really enjoying coconut,so I googled some recipes and tried out this one. I kept eting bits while preparing it and thought it was “ok”. That evening we had some dinner and tried these flapjacks as a desserr. ´OH MY GOD” was my reaction in my mind. Few simple ingredient turned into this magic. It is amazing! If you are looking to try to make flapjack,go for this!
Note: I also added mixed crushed nuts and peanut+coconut butter. It was bit too sweet in the end,but next time (meaning tomorrow) I’ll just add less maplw syrup.
Thanks for this great recipe!
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
I’m so please you liked it. the coconut butter sounds delicious in it too!
Kate says
Hi There, can i make these with cacao powder on the top? x
Ciara Attwell says
Hi, I haven’t tried it myself but I don’t see why not!
Jelena says
I’ve just made these and as I didn’t have dish small enough to bake in, I’ve used silicon muffin liners. I’be put about I tbl spoon of filling in each, pressed it in and baked about 8 min on 180C, untill golden. Covered with chocolade cover and put in the fridge.
They turned out fabolous, I’m putting them on my favorites list! And they are perfect size for small hands ❤❤❤
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Wow that sounds amazing. I will have to try this method!
Gemma says
Will be trying these today they look yummy!! What would the calorific value per slice be?#caloriecounting thank you!
Ciara Attwell says
Im not sure sorry, but if you input the ingredients into an online calorie counter it will be able to tell you!
Gemma says
Will be trying these today they look yummy!! What would the calorific value per slice be?#caloriecounting thank you!
Fiona says
Hello.
I’ve not tried to make these yet (will do at the weekend!) – how long do these keep for once made?
Thanks
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Hi Fiona, I keep mine in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Corina says
Thanks for the recipe. These were very tasty!! Mine crumbled a lot though – couldn’t get them into a bar shape really, just small bits and crumbles – any idea what could’ve gone wrong? Still got eaten though just harder to have when not at home as so messy.
Ciara Attwell says
Was the mixture completely cooled when you cut them into slices? If I don’t let it cool enough mine will crumble too. This might sounds a bit weird but sometimes I find that difference brands of honey / syrup / nut butter to be stickier, if you know what I mean. Maybe next time add a little more nut butter and this should help them to set better.
Jenny says
Fantastic recipie went down at treat with my dairy soya and egg free kid. Not as well as it went down with her allergy free brother and father though 😀 best flapjacks I’ve made
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Thank you so much Jenny. Really happy to hear how much your family enjoyed them! x
International Elf Service says
Really looking forward to making these – we’re very ‘free from’ here and struggle with treats for the little one at parties, so these are perfect! Thank you so much for sharing x
Ciara Attwell says
Thank you. Hope you enjoy them!
Jackie says
These are so delicious, I’m never using another flap jack recipe!!
Thank you for sharing it.
Ciara Attwell says
Thank you so much Jackie. So glad you love them!
HELEN says
these look amazing!
★★★★★
Ciara Attwell says
Thanks Helen. They are so so good, you really should try them.