I love flapjacks. The only problem is that they are often made with plenty of butter and refined sugar. They taste great but can be high in saturated fat, sugar and calories.
Low calorie flapjacks might sound boring but these are actually really good. Trust me.
The main secret ingredients to a tasty, healthier version of traditional flapjack is bananas. I don’t mean it’s crazy, I mean it’s actually bananas, the fruit (sorry, terrible joke). Bananas help to bind the oats together and provide a natural sweetness to the flapjacks.
It is best to choose bananas that are quite ripe and have some black spots on them, as they tend to be sweeter than bananas that are still quite hard and fully yellow.
My kids are a bit fussy once the bananas start to have black spots on them and are reluctant to eat them, so making flapjacks is a great way of using up these bananas that might otherwise get thrown out.
A healthier sweet treat for your coffee break
If you like to have something sweet for your morning or afternoon tea or coffee break, these low calorie flapjacks are a great option. They are usually healthier option then hitting the vending machine or grabbing a pastry or sweet treat from your local coffee shop.
Not only do they not contain ingredients such as butter, that is high in saturated fat, which is linked to higher LDL cholesterol, they are based around oats, which may have a positive effect on our blood cholesterol. Oats contain substances called beta-glucans, which have been linked with lowering cholesterol levels.
Lowe Calorie Flapjack Ingredients:
- Oats
- Bananas
- Choppe dates
- Maple syrup
- Oat milk
- Cinnamon
How to make these low calorie flapjacks
I think it’s easiest to mash the bananas separately so you start by peeling the bananas, then add them to a mixing bowl and mash either with a fork or a potato masher. I find a potato masher is quicker for this.
Chop up the dates into small pieces. If they are not pitted the stones will also need to be removed first. Then add the dates along with the remainder of the ingredients to the mixing bowl along with the bananas and mix everything together.
Place the mixture into a silicon brownie dish and spread evenly with the back of a fork or a spatula. You can also use a regular brownie tin lined with parchment paper.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at a temperature of 180 degrees Celsius for 15 to 18 minutes until the oats begin to turn golden.
Remove the flapjacks from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes and then cut them into squares.
All there is left to do now is to put the kettle on or get the coffee ready.
low calorie flapjacks (gluten free and vegan)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 260 g oats
- 4 bananas (small/medium and ripe)
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 60 g dates (chopped and pitted)
- 4 tbsp oat milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel the bananas, place them into a mixing bowl and mash them with a potato masher or the back of a fork until they have a smooth consistency.
- Add the remainder of the ingredients to the mixing bowl along with the bananas. Cut the dates into small pieces before adding them.
- Mix everything together well in the bowl.
- Add the mixture to a brownie tin sized silicon container and smooth the mixture out until even with the back of a fork or a spatula. You can also use a regular brownie tin lined with parchment paper.
- Place into a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for around 18 minutes until the oats are just beginning to turn golden.
- Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes
- Cut the flapjacks to the desired size and serve.
Nutrition
If you like these flapjacks you may also like to check out my Oat Banana Bites which are based on a similar recipe.
For other healthier sweet treats I also recommend trying the Peanut Butter Oat Cookies and delectable Orange Energy Balls.
