Flapjacks must be among the quickest, easiest and tastiest bakes going. This one has a few more ingredients than most, to give a definite taste of Christmas. These are ideal to have “at hand” when friends or family or neighbours call in.

Makes: 18 medium sized pieces

Level: Easy

Time: Prep – 20 min Baking – about 15 min.

Need: A 20 x 30cm baking tray

Ingredients

300g/10oz oats
½ tsp each of: ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mixed spice*
75g/2½oz dried cranberries
75g/2½oz white chocolate, chopped
Zest from one orange
125g/4½oz butter
150g/5½oz light brown soft sugar or muscovado
1 tbsp golden syrup
Juice from one orange
A 410g/14oz jar of mincemeat**
60g/2oz flaked almonds

* For a stronger Christmassy flavour these amounts can be increased, but take care.

** You could use a whole jar – I did – but it makes the flapjack very gooey and sticky and it doesn’t hold together all that well. You could try about 300g/10oz first and see how it goes.

Method

1. Heat oven to 200°C / Fan 180°C / 400°F / Gas 6. Grease and line the baking tray.

2. Put the oats, spices, cranberries and chocolate pieces in a large bowl and mix well. Grate in the orange zest and mix again. Set the bowl aside.

3. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a large saucepan. Don’t let it boil. Once it has melted, stir in the orange juice.

4. Pour the melted mixture onto the dry mixture and stir well to make sure everything is coated.

5. Tip a little more than half of the mixture into the baking tray then spoon over the mincemeat and add half the flaked almonds. Cover with the remaining mixture and sprinkle over the rest of the flaked almonds.

6. Bake for 15 – 18 minutes or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the flaked almonds and cover with foil if they begin to darken.

7. Leave in the tin for a short while then score into pieces. When it has cooled, cut through fully.

Gallery

I hope you have a go at these tasty flapjacks. Here are a few other Christmas bakes that may be of interest. You can find all these & more via this link:

Ian’s Christmas Collection.