English Banana Flapjacks

A wonderful English teatime nibble, bolstered with oats, butter and ripe bananas.

‘Flapjacks’ have been about since at least the 1600’s. The name ‘Jack’ was the ‘Plain Jane’ of that era, denoting that flapjacks were accessible to almost everybody. The ‘flap’, - while we’re on - refers to flipping, as these would have originally been prepared on a griddle. Nowadays, the flapjack is a different, more decadent creature. A simple yet indulgent medley of oats, butter and honey. You’ll find them mostly at train stations now, eyed-up for fast sustenance and offering questionable quality. Let’s shrug off those connotations and breath fresh life into the flapjack Made at home, with a simple selection of ingredients, they’re one of the most delicious treats of English teatime. This recipe creates a soft, squishy flapjack, with instructions for further baking if you like a crispier dimension. I go one further by roping in bananas, which add an extra comforting aroma to sooth grey English skies and maybe even a long train journey. Let’s go!