Chocolate Orange Flapjacks: Fresh, Zesty and Satisfying
Fresh and zesty orange flapjacks studded with dark chocolate chips. These chocolate orange flapjacks are not only tasty, but they’re quick and easy to make too. Just what you need when you’re in a hurry. As well as a filling snack, they also make a great dessert. Just serve warm with custard.
Just after Christmas, one year, friends were having an “open house”. You know me, I didn’t feel I could just turn up empty handed, but I also didn’t have a great deal of time to bake anything elaborate. I also felt with all the goodies going around at Christmas, something simple would be welcome. Flapjacks, I reckoned, would fit both of these criteria.
Chocolate and orange are a good festive combination and so it was that these chocolate orange flapjacks were born. I’ve made them many times since.
Chocolate Orange Flapjacks
Chocolate and orange is such a popular combination and for good reason. It’s one of those unions that just brings out the best in each. Rich intense chocolate contrasts well with the fresh zesty notes of orange. In these flapjacks, the main flavour is fresh orange but the intense burst of chocolate when you hit a piece is a real delight.
Flapjacks are one of the easiest bakes ever. In fact they’re one of the best to start children off with in the kitchen. You don’t need much more than weighing scales, a big saucepan, a wooden spoon and a square baking pan.
Admittedly these chocolate orange flapjacks are slightly more complicated in that you need to zest and juice the orange. But they still only take a few minutes to prepare. Basically, you need to melt the butter and syrup together in the saucepan. Add sugar, a pinch of salt and the orange juice and zest. Give it a good stir so it’s well combined, then stir in rolled oats followed by the chocolate chips.
Press the mixture into a buttered baking pan and bake. There’s a minimum of fuss and not much washing up either. Win win!
The chocolate and orange combination works its magic every time. Even CT, who it has to be said isn’t a top chocolate and orange fan, likes them. His comment, when asked to give one, was “fresh and zesty, they’re the besty”.
Chocolate Orange Flapjacks: Top Tips
You can make the flapjack mixture in advance. Just press it into the baking pan and leave it in a cool place until you have time to bake it, either later the same day or the next. It doesn’t need to go in the fridge. Just cover it to stop it drying out.
Flapjacks don’t normally have wet ingredients added to them, other than melted butter and syrup. As these ones include orange juice, it makes the flapjacks a little more fragile. So, unless you’re going to serve them warm in a bowl for dessert, make sure you leave them to get thoroughly cold before you cut them.
You can use orange flavoured chocolate in this recipe and omit the orange. Whilst the flapjacks are less crumbly if you do this, they don’t have that zingy freshness that makes these chocolate orange flapjacks sing.
For flapjacks with a more solid structure, melt the chocolate along with the butter and syrup rather than adding it as choc chips.
As already mentioned, these flapjacks also make a great dessert, especially if you serve them warm with custard or even cream.
How to Measure Golden Syrup
Golden syrup is really sticky stuff, so it can be awkward to measure. The easiest way to do it is to place your metal measuring spoon into a mug of very hot water. Quickly dry the spoon with a clean tea towel and dip it into the golden syrup tin. Whilst the spoon is warm, the syrup will slide off the spoon really easily. Quickly dip it in a second time, if needed, before the spoon has a chance to cool off.
This method works just as well for treacle or molasses as it does for golden syrup.
If you’re nearing the bottom of the tin, place it on top of a mug of hot water for a minute or so. This will make the syrup runnier and it will then be much easier to extract it from the tin.
One tablespoon of golden syrup is approximately equivalent to 25 grams or 1 ounce. It’s not an exact conversion, but will work for most recipes.
Other Chocolate Orange Recipes You Might Like
- Candied orange peel dipped in chocolate
- Chocolate, hazelnut & orange biscotti
- Chocolate orange marble cake
- Milk chocolate cupcakes with cardamom & orange
- Spicy chocolate & orange Easter bundt cake
- Triple orange chocolate cake
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these easy chocolate orange flapjacks, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more flapjack recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Chocolate Orange Flapjacks. PIN IT.
Chocolate Orange Flapjacks – The Recipe
Chocolate Orange Flapjacks
Ingredients
- 125 g unsalted butter (4 ½ oz)
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 75 g light brown sugar (2 ½ oz) (I use muscovado)
- 1 pinch sea or rock salt
- 1 orange
- 225 g rolled oats (porridge oats) (8 oz)
- 75 g dark chocolate chips (2 ½ oz (I use 70% cocoa solids))
Instructions
- Turn the oven on to 200℃ (180℃ fan, 400℉, Gas 6)
- Melted the butter in a large pan over a low heat.
- Add the golden syrup, sugar and salt and stir to combine, then remove from the heat.
- Zest and juice the orange and add both to the butter mixture. Stir.
- Add the oats and stir to combine.
- Finally stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scrape into a buttered 20 cm 8″ sq silicone mould or lined tin and press down so that you have an even layer.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes or until the top is golden.
- Allow to cool completely, then cut into 9 large or 12 smaller pieces.
These look fabulous! I love your blog, your recipes are just fantastic!xxx
I like flapjacks a lot & it’s nice to see a new recipe.
C – Can’t have a bit of butter putting you off lovely healthy flapjacks 😉
Oooh, yum, flapjacks. And you can sort of pretend that the oats are still good for you in spite of being encased by butter! Chocolate and orange sounds like a great flavour combo. Must make flapjacks again soon… thanks for the prompt!
Ananda – flapjacks are very English – very easy and quite delicious. You must try some.
I have never made flapjacks sounds easy and quick, with orange flavour heavenly!
Sushma – you’re right, chocolate and orange are a great combination.
Sheelagh – no drooling please – just eating 😉
Domestic Goddess – tasty and healthy is always a winner.
Chele – thanks, I’ll remember that 😉
Wendy, I’d love to pop round to see you, especially when dinner is in the offing!
Jill – thank you. Thehumble flapjack often gets forgotten ;(
Oxslip – nice to see you back. Luckily, my friends are usually very appreciative.
Johanna – that orange syrup just went on and on – glad to say I have finally used it up now!
Hopeeternal – it’s good to bake a batch of flapjacks from time to time, if only to be reminded that baking doesn’t have to be time consuming or complicated.
Helen – did you get around to making flapjacks in the end? I’ve just checked out your site to see what flavour you went for, but nothing yet.
Joanna – looking forward to seeing what sort of flapjacks you come up with.
Janice – it’s great when you can kid yourself that they are healthy 😉
Dom – I’m shocked 😉
Suzler – nice to hear from you
Suelle – I know you’re not a fan of Maya Gold in cooking, but it does go well in some things and the change in consistency works quite well in flapjacks. My mother eats lots of oranges and dries the skins out on her aga, then grinds them in a coffee grinder. I get to have the odd jar and jolly useful I find it.
Jac – I know you’re a fan of chocolate and orange. I can’t forget the look of those flapjacks you made.
Brittany – they are particularly good for a hungry crowd.
CC – I always sprinkle sesame seeds on top, I like the look and it does add a certain something.
Thanks Choclette: About time I made flapjacks again and I love the sound of orange flavoured ones!
hopeeternal
‘Meanderings through my Cookbook’
http://www.hopeeternalcookbook.wordpress.com
nice use of the orange syrup – and wonderful sweet treat to take along
My goodness you’ve certainly been busy since I was last over here. All of this looks amazing, but those chocolate and chocolate confections are totally amazing, your friends are very lucky!
Forgotten all about flapjacks. Love these and with your combo sound just fabulous!
Yum yum… now, if you can’t go anywhere without taking something nice with you….would you like to pop round to see me? 🙂
Flapjacks are never a bad idea! These sound a real treat, you can turn up to my place anytime you like with a plate of these in tow
;0)
These look lush – I like the addition of sesame seeds. A nice wholesome treat.
I have a tissue for the drool factor today visiting your recipes!
Love classic orange with chocolate.
it looks awesome, love the orange flavour in it…
Love the idea of sesame seeds on top – must have added great flavour and texture
You chose a good recipe for a busy time. I love chocolate and orange, and these would be a great crowd pleaser yet still straight forward to make.
Just as I thought Choclette. Delicious! I just love chocolate and orange together. Maya Gold is a particular favourite of mine 🙂
I usually love chcolate and orange in combination in baked goods, but not when Maya Gold chocolate is used in cooking! Plenty of alternatives, though.
Do you make your own dried orange peel?
Ooh, I like the sound of this! *bookmarks*
oooh… love the orangey flapjack… bet they taste good… never made flapjacks and they’re so easy to do… must sort this soon x
Now I don’t call that a ‘simple’ flapjack – soo many good things in there – yum!
Love the flapjacks! Just bought some new oats this weekend, so will hope to make a batch later in the week!
You are the second person that has reminded me via their blog to make flapjacks in the next few days.
The question is what type shall I make? So much choice and so many wonderful flavour ideas!