Healthy Apple Flapjacks {Refined Sugar Free}

These Healthy Apple Flapjacks are made with apple sauce and maple syrup, so refined sugar free. Pop one in lunchboxes for some long lasting energy!

Healthy Apple Flapjacks

These sweet gooey flapjacks are one of the most popular recipes on my site as are these chocolate flapjacks and so it stood to reason I'd add these healthy apple flapjacks and you know what? They're every bit as good as both of the others!

Being a Clean eating kinda Mom I keep these refined sugar free. They still contain sugar: Dates and maple syrup but it not refined and for a snack, it's better than the store bought ones.

Where as the 'old' kind of flapjacks I used to buy, yep, buy (!) were loaded full of refined sugars, these ones are not and yet they're gooey, soft, sweet and the kids go crackers over them.

Flapjacks are one of those recipes that kids love to help out with and my kids are no exception. As they got older they make batches of these on their own but when they were smaller they loved to help with flapjacks - mainly because they know they get to eat them afterwards :)

The apple in these flapjacks comes from apple sauce. If you can find a Clean version then use that, if not (and they can be really hard to find) then simple peel and core 2 apples, shop them into really small pieces and boil them in half a cup of water until they've broken down and you can mash them into a smooth apple sauce.

I don't add any extra sugar to the apples if I'm making the apple sauce myself as I don't think the flapjacks really need it. I use dates and maple syrup for the sweetness so all you need the apples for is the flavor. Of course, the sweeter the apples you use are, the sweeter the apple sauce will be.

I like to use red apples if I'm making the sauce, I find them sweeter than green apples. And one other thing, if you do make the apple sauce yourself, make sure you use it straight away, or make it as you're making the flapjacks as fresh apple sauce will go brown if you leave it out to long.

More Healthy Kid Friendly Snacks

• Healthy flapjacks for kids
• Clean eating Chocolate flapjacks
• No bake date slice
• Little kid banana biscuits
• Peanut butter and chocolate chip oatmeal bar
• Fresh cherry loaf cake
• Blueberry flapjacks

Why Are These Flapjacks Good?

I use oatmeal in my baking a lot because it's one of the highest protein grains and it keeps the kids going for longer. Pop a piece of this in lunchboxes for morning break and the kids won't have rumbling tummies until lunch :)

Since oatmeals high in soluble fibre you get that 'full' feeling that lasts and so I like the kids to have this in snacks. You'll avoid those blood sugar crashes that see us scrambling to eat anything if you eat oatmeal. It's pretty good stuff.

Snacks are always going to be a treat but we all like treats don't we (at least we do!) and so you might as well add in some goodness where you can.

Being an oat-y snack, this travels really well. Although it's soft and gooey it manages to keep its shape well and doesn't fall apart in a lunchbox. Yay!

Variations

I've kept these apple flapjacks really simple. Apples and Oatmeal. But if you wanted you could add in some other flavors or foods for some extra texture. Here's some you could try:

• Raisins - If you like raisins you could add in half a cup to the mixture before baking
• Cinnamon - Apples and cinnamon go together like...well they go together really well and you can add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the mixture
• Nuts - Walnuts work well in this recipe, add half a cup of chopped walnuts for some nutty crunch!
• Honey - Feel free to swap out the maple syrup for honey if you prefer it. I find honey sweeter than maple syrup and it makes a slightly stickier flapjack

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Storing Flapjacks

Flapjacks should be kept in an airtight container and they'll stay fresh for up to 3 days. I don't keep them refrigerated, they're fine in the cupboard. I also don't recommend you freeze flapjacks. I did try this once as frozen snacks that can go straight into lunchboxes and defrost throughout the morning can be very handy, but the water content makes them soggy :)

How To Make Healthy Apple Flapjacks

Ingredients

• 3 Cups Oatmeal
•  ⅓ Cup Butter Salted
• ⅓ Cup Dates Pitted, chopped into small pieces
• ⅔ Cup Apple puree See the post to make your own
• 3 tbsp Maple syrup 100% pure syrup

Instructions

• Heat your oven to 190F or 375C and line a 6inch square pan with parchment paper
• Melt your butter and maple syrup over a low heat. Add the warm butter and maple syrup to the oats and mix
• Pour your apple sauce and chopped dates into the buttery oats and mix well. Your mixture should bind well, and be sticky
• Rub a little butter on the parchment paper to stop the apple flapjack sticking. Push your mixture well into the pan so it's compact and even on top. I use the back of a dessert spoon to do this
• Bake for around for 18 minutes. The flapjacks will be soft when you take them out of the oven and they'll harden up as they cool
• Cut into squares

Healthy Apple Flapjacks Recipe