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    Home » Breakfast

    Healthy Banana Flapjacks

    Published: Jan 16, 2023 by Meesha · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Graphic with 2 images of flapjack slices arranged on a parchment paper with text between the images.
    Graphic with a tray of flapjacks arranged on a parchment paper with text at the bottom.
    Slices of banana flapjacks arranged on a parchment paper with text overlay.

    Chewy, soft, and moist, these banana flapjacks make a great hearty breakfast or snack. They are packed with fiber and happen to be naturally vegan and gluten-free. All you need are 5 simple ingredients and 30 minutes to make these healthy flapjacks! 

    Slices of banana flapjacks arranged on a parchment paper with a spoonful of peanut butter and bowl of oats beside.

    I love making a batch of these banana flapjacks on the weekends as part of my meal prep! They are incredibly delicious and filling, yet healthier than the traditional version. Like my peanut butter banana oatmeal bars, it is also a great way to use overripe or bruised bananas, preventing them from going to waste. 

    Jump to:
    • 💚Why you will love this recipe 
    • 🤔What are flapjacks
    • 🍌What you will need 
    • 📃Ingredient notes and substitutions 
    • 🔪How to make 
    • ✔️Helpful tips 
    • 🍫Fun add-ins 
    • ❄️Storing suggestions 
    • ❔Commonly asked questions
    • 🍽️More healthy vegan breakfasts
    • 📖 Recipe

    💚Why you will love this recipe 

    • Hearty, chewy, and perfectly sweetened 
    • The perfect on-the-go breakfast or snack 
    • Super easy to make and only requires 5 ingredients 
    • Stores well and are freezable - great for meal prep! 

    🤔What are flapjacks

    The British version of flapjacks is baked bars made from oats, butter, golden syrup, and brown sugar, resembling granola bars. They are usually served for dessert but make a great breakfast or snack. This is the recipe we will be making in this post.

    On the other hand, the terms pancakes and flapjacks are used interchangeably in American English.

    To make it healthier, we will use bananas and maple syrup instead of golden syrup and sugar to sweeten the flapjacks. Butter is also being replaced with nut butter of choice for a boost of protein and healthy fats. 

    🍌What you will need 

    Ingredients needed like bananas, oats, cinnamon, peanut butter, and maple syrup.

    📃Ingredient notes and substitutions 

    • Banana - Make sure to use ripe bananas that are brown and spotty, as they are the primary sweetener in this recipe. You can also use frozen bananas, but thaw and drain off excess liquid before using. 
    • Nut butter - Any nut butter like peanuts or cashew will work but use smooth, natural ones that only contain nuts and salt. To make this recipe nut-free, use sunflower seed or pumpkin seed butter. 
    • Oats - Both instant oats and rolled oats will work in this recipe. Instant oats yield softer flapjacks, while rolled oats yield chewier bars.

    🔪How to make 

    Preheat oven to 180C/350F. 

    In a bowl, mash bananas until smooth using a fork or potato masher. 

    Add nut butter and maple syrup to the bowl and mix well.

    Mashed bananas in a bowl with a fork with bowl of peanut butter and maple syrup beside.
    Wet ingredients in a mixing bowl with a fork beside with 2 empty ramekins beside.

    Then, add oats and ground cinnamon. Mix until everything is well incorporated.

    Pour the batter into an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Top it with banana slices, if desired. 

    Batter of flapjacks in a mixing bowl with a fork with 2 empty ramekins and a teaspoon beside.
    Unbaked flapjacks in a baking pan topped with bananas with 2 empty ramekins and a teaspoon beside.

    Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden. Let banana flapjacks cool completely before slicing. 

    A tray of baked flapjacks in a square baking tray.

    ✔️Helpful tips 

    • The types of oats used will slightly alter the texture of your banana flapjacks. Quick or instant oats will produce a softer texture, while rolled oats will produce a chewier, firmer bite. 
    • Overhang the parchment paper when lining the baking pan (as shown in the process pictures above) to allow for easy removal of oatmeal bars. 
    • Allow flapjacks to cool to room temperature before slicing to prevent them from falling apart. 
    • To produce a clean cut, use a sharp knife, and wipe the knife clean with a kitchen towel between each cut. 

    🍫Fun add-ins 

    • Chocolate chips or chunks of your favorite chocolate bar 
    • Dried fruits - chopped dates, raisins, sultanas 
    • Coconut flakes 
    • Other flavorings or spices - vanilla extract, nutmeg, allspice
    • Peanut butter banana flavored - Use peanut butter as your choice of nut butter 
    A sliced tray of banana flapjacks on a parchment paper.

    ❄️Storing suggestions 

    Fridge - Banana flapjacks can be refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container. 

    Freezer - These healthy flapjacks can be frozen for up to 3 months in a storage container or ziptop bag. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge or countertop for a couple of hours before reheating. 

    Reheating - You can either reheat flapjacks in the microwave at 15-second bursts or in an oven preheated to 180C/350F for 5-8 minutes. 

    ❔Commonly asked questions

    Are flapjacks vegan?

    Traditional flapjacks are not vegan, as butter is one of the main ingredients. However, these healthy flapjacks are naturally vegan, as nut butter is used instead of butter.

    Are flapjacks gluten-free?

    Flapjacks are naturally gluten-free, as no wheat or other gluten products are used in the recipe. However, as cross-contamination of oats might occur during processing, you will want to ensure that you use certified gluten-free oats if you have gluten sensitivity.

    Why did my flapjack fall apart?

    The first reason is that you are slicing flapjacks that are still warm. Allow sufficient time for them to cool completely before slicing can help prevent them from crumbling and falling apart. 

    You might also use too little fats and other binding ingredients, resulting in dry flapjacks. Hence, I highly recommend measuring ingredients using a kitchen scale for the highest accuracy.

    Sliced tray of flapjacks arranged on a creased parchment paper.

    🍽️More healthy vegan breakfasts

    • Silken Tofu Scramble
    • Fluffy Soy Milk Pancakes
    • Almond Milk French Toast
    • Moist Zucchini Apple Carrot Muffins

    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    Slices of flapjacks arranged on a parchment paper with spoonful of peanut butter and bowl of oats beside.

    Healthy Banana Flapjacks

    Meesha
    Chewy, soft, and moist, these banana flapjacks make a great hearty breakfast or snack. They are packed with fiber and happen to be naturally vegan and gluten-free. All you need are 5 simple ingredients and 30 minutes to make these healthy flapjacks!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 squares
    Calories 151 kcal

    Equipment

    • 8x8 baking pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups rolled oats or instant oats*
    • 4 medium banana (about 14oz/400g)
    • ½ cup peanut butter or another nut butter
    • ¼ cup maple syrup or another liquid sweetener
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
    • In a bowl, mash bananas until smooth using a fork or potato masher.
      4 medium banana
    • Add nut butter and maple syrup to the bowl and mix well.
      ½ cup peanut butter, ¼ cup maple syrup
    • Then, add oats and ground cinnamon. Mix until everything is well incorporated
      3 cups rolled oats, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • Pour the batter into an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Top it with banana slices, if desired.
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden. Allow flapjacks to set in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
    • Let flapjacks cool completely before slicing.

    Notes

    *Oats - Both instant oats and rolled oats will work in this recipe. Instant oats yield softer flapjacks, while rolled oats yield chewier bars.
     
    Helpful tips 
    • Frozen bananas can be used, but thaw and drain off excess liquid before using. 
    • Overhang the parchment paper when lining the baking pan (as shown in the process pictures above) to allow for easy removal of oatmeal bars. 
    • Allow flapjacks to cool to room temperature before slicing to prevent them from falling apart. 
     
    Storing - Banana flapjacks can be refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Flapjacks can be frozen for up to 3 months in a storage container or ziptop bag. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge or countertop for a couple of hours before reheating. 
    Reheating - You can either reheat flapjacks in the microwave at 15-second bursts or in an oven preheated to 180C/350F for 5-8 minutes. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 151kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 35mgPotassium: 223mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 19IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.

    Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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