Flapjacks are one of the easiest and most versatile things you can bake. They are also delicious, the addition of the dates and apples was almost a stroke of genius on my part (check out my modesty). While I wouldn’t exactly say adding a bit of fruit to the mix makes this a healthy recipe, you could argue that it makes it healthier which is definitely a good thing. These have the added advantage of being really filling and giving you a nice hit of sugar so they keep you going for ages. A perfect snack an hour before you go out for a run or do some other form of exercise.

Also, the pack of dates were labelled “Date Me” which is a pun I could not resist.

To make these you will need:

250g Porridge Oats

125g Butter

125g Soft Brown Sugar

3 tbsps Golden Syrup

1 large apple

1 of those packs of dates you get from fruit shops in polystyrene tubs with a stick in it, or 1/3 bag of the ones you get in a packet it the dried fruit section of the supermarket

1 cup tea (I used Earl Grey)

Stone your dates and cut into small pieces. Put these into a bowl with the tea to soak for a few minutes. Grate the apple and add it to the mix and put to one side. At this point grease your baking tray and preheat your oven to 180°C.

In a larger bowl mix together your oats and sugar. Drain the apple and dates of tea and add to your dry ingredients.

Melt your butter and golden syrup by heating gently in a small saucepan. Add this to the rest of the ingredients and make sure everything is well mixed.

Put this into your greased baking tray in an even layer and make sure the mixture reaches the edges of the tray.Bake until golden brown (about 20 minutes).

Cut into approximately 16 squares. Share amongst the people that you live with who have congregated in the kitchen attracted by the sweet sweet smell of your flapjacks. So easy you could probably train a monkey to do it (he might start eating any bananas you happen to have in your fruit bowl though!)