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Starbucks oat bars have been a favourite treat of mine for a long time. Lucky for both of us, I came across a recipe while visiting Europe that was an exact duplicate of these favourite oatmeal bars. They are known as British flapjacks and you are going to love this copycat recipe as much as I do. Oats are just straight up yummy and I am a huge fan of oatmeal and anything to do with the breakfast classic. These Starbucks bars are perfect for a quick and easy breakfast, a midday pick-me-up, or a satisfying after-dinner treat. Plus, they’re very easy to make at home, so you don’t have to spend a fortune on buying them at Starbucks.
Starbucks oat bars aka British flapjacks are a perfect treat for a rainy afternoon, a school snack or a sweet breakfast option. They are easy to make and to eat!
Also try these lemon almond scones, some chocolate coconut magic bars or these heavenly tropical pineapple scones.
Why You Will Love This Starbucks Oat Bar Recipe
- Control over Ingredients – When making Starbucks oat bars at home, you have complete control over the ingredients that go into them.
- Cost Effective – Homemade oat bars are so much cheaper to than purchasing at Starbucks. You can buy ingredients in bulk and make a large batch of oat bars that will last for a while.
- Customizable – Copycat Starbucks bars can be customized to suit your own taste. You can experiment with different ingredients and flavours to create your own unique recipe.
- Freshness – Making these flapjack bars at home will ensure they are fresher than store bought ones.
British Flapjack Flavour Notes
With a first look at this Starbucks oat bar recipe (flapjacks), you may think it is similar to a Nature Valley granola bar, but that is not the case. These are wonderful little treats! The texture is somewhere between a chewy granola bar and a crispy, chewy oatmeal cookie. It is chewy and dense with slightly crispy edges.
The sugar and butter caramelize and have such a rich deep flavor – very buttery, and carmel-y which is the perfect accent to the nuttiness of the oats. You will love the dash of salt and the cinnamon. They both are very much just a hint, but they make everything else really pop. The turbinado sugar adds just tiny bursts of sweetness and very light crunch.
Starbucks Oat Bar Ingredients
British flapjacks and this Starbucks oatmeal bar are a traditional sweet treat made with simple and delicious ingredients and this recipe variation to make these Starbucks oat bars can also say the same. You will need quick cooking rolled oats, butter, turbinado sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and golden syrup which gives it that yummy chewy texture.
What is Turbinado Sugar?
Turbinado sugar is made from sugar cane juice and is also known as raw sugar. You will find that turbinado sugar has a slightly coarser texture than white granulated sugar and it has a subtle, natural molasses flavour. It is often used as a sweetener in baking and cooking, as a topping for oatmeal, cereals, and fruits, and as a sweetener in coffee and tea. In this Starbucks oat bar recipe, if you don’t have turbinado sugar, you can substitute in more brown sugar.
What is Golden Syrup?
Golden syrup is a type of inverted sugar syrup that is commonly used in British baking. It has a unique, rich flavor that is distinct from regular syrup. Golden syrup is a key ingredient in these oat bars as it helps to bind the oats together and gives the finished product a characteristic golden colour and a delicious, sweet taste.
It is a nice thick syrup similar in texture to honey. A lot of people liken it to corn syrup but it’s very different. It’s much more like honey or maple syrup. It is sweet with hints of delicious caramel. You can purchase it online or at specialty markets. You can actually even make golden syrup at home. If you can’t find golden syrup, you can use dark corn syrup or honey in its place.
Oats Used in Oat Bars or Flapjacks
Similar to flapjacks, this Starbucks granola bar recipe uses quick cooking rolled oats. There are so many different kind of porridge oats, but it is important for this recipe to use the correct one. These quick oats are thinner and smaller than regular oats, which allows them to cook more quickly and evenly. These are the oats I used in this recipe and there is also a gluten free oats (here) version to consider. You will want to make sure you are using the correct oats, but in a pinch, you could put regular oats in a food processor and pulse it 2 to 3 times to break them down.
Oat Bar Recipe Variations
The best part of making these bars at home is that you can customize the ingredients to your liking, whether you prefer your bars sweeter or more savoury, or you want to add nuts or seeds to the oat mixture for some extra crunch.
This is a great base recipe, you could add different spices, flavourings, or mix ins to really make them your own! Think… raisins, nuts, dried fruit, dried berries, chocolate chips, M&Ms, pumpkin spice, vanilla bean paste. You can make endless healthy oat bars varieties with this base recipe. You could even drizzle some melted chocolate on top of them.
These homemade Starbucks oat bars are a great way to enjoy a tasty snack without any guilt. They are also a great option for those who have dietary restrictions, such as gluten free or vegan, as they can be easily adapted to suit those needs. So, get creative, have fun, and enjoy your homemade oat bars!
How To Serve British Flapjacks or Starbucks Oat Bars
These homemade oat bars a versatile treat that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Some popular serving suggestions include:
- As a snack – Cut the traditional flapjack oat bars into squares and serve them as a snack. They are a great alternative to store-bought snacks and can be enjoyed on-the-go.
- As a dessert – Serve the Starbucks oat bars warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra delicious dessert.
- With tea or coffee – As we all know, these copycat Starbucks oat bars are a great accompaniment to a cup of tea or your morning coffee.
- As a breakfast – Serve the oat bars with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and a cup of yogurt for a sweet breakfast option.
- As a topping for yogurt or oatmeal – Crumble the copycat oat bar over yogurt or oatmeal for a crunchy and sweet topping.
- As a trail mix – Mix chunks of the oat bar with different nuts, dried fruits and seeds to make a great trail mix, perfect for hiking and picnics.
Tips for Making the Bars at Home
- Line the baking dish with parchment paper and allow it to hang over the sides for best results. The bars will slide right off, which makes it so easy to remove to cool and slice.
- The key to making traditional flapjacks bars that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside is not to overcook them. Keep an eye on them while they are in the oven and remove them as soon as they are golden brown.
- Make sure to mix the ingredients well, to make sure the oats will be evenly coated.
- Once the mixture is ready press it into the baking tray, making sure it is evenly spread out and pressed firmly.
- Use a shorter cooking time for more chewy flapjacks and a bit longer time if you prefer them crisper.
Starbucks Oat Bars FAQs
Yes, you can add a variety of ingredients such as nuts, seeds, dried fruits, chocolate chips or even spices to the recipe to customize it to your own taste. Make sure to add them after the butter, sugar and syrup have been melted and mixed together before adding the oats.
Yes, just substitute the regular quick cooking rolled oats with gluten free quick cooking rolled oats. I like to use these gluten free oats found here. Gluten free oats may not have the same texture as regular oats, so the result may be slightly different in texture and taste.
These oat bars contain butter, so they are not vegan. However, I have made them with plant based butter and they work fine.
If you can’t find golden syrup, you can use dark corn syrup or honey in its place.
The bars will last for about a week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They can also be stored in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life. To reheat them, you can put them in the oven or microwave for a few seconds before serving, to regain their crispiness.
Yes, you can freeze flapjacks. After baking and cutting into squares, place them on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 to 2 hours. Then transfer the oat bars into an airtight container or a freezer bag. They will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Oat Bar Starbucks Style Recipe
Starbucks Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 10 Tablespoons salted butter
- ⅓ Cup turbinado sugar
- ⅓ Cup brown sugar
- ⅓ Cup golden syrup
- ¼ Teaspoon salt
- ¼ Teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 ¾ Cups quick cooking rolled oats, quick cooking rolled oats
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×9 baking dish by lining the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium saucepan combine the butter, turbinado sugar, brown sugar, golden syrup, salt, and cinnamon. Melt the mixture together over medium heat until the butter has melted and the brown sugar has mostly dissolved, the turbinado sugar will remain crystallized. Remove from heat.
- Add the oats to the saucepan and mix into the butter sugar mixture until the oats are fully coated.
- Press the oat mixture into the prepared 9×9 baking dish. Pat the mixture down with a spatula so that the top is a flat and even surface.
- Place the bars into the oven and close the door, immediately reduce heat to 325 degrees F. Bake at 325 degrees F for 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Remove the bars from the oven. While they are still hot and in the pan, cut the flapjacks into 16 pieces. Leave the flapjacks in the pan to cool.
- Once the oat bars are completely cooled, carefully lift them out of the 9×9 baking dish and place onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to re-cut the 16 pieces. Separate the pieces and either serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
You will just absolutely LOVE this homemade version of Starbucks’ delicious oat bars! They are very similar to traditional British flapjacks with a few variations. These cafe style oat bars are made with wholesome ingredients and are perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on the go. Plus, these granola bars are easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Enjoy the taste of Starbucks in the comfort of your own home with these homemade oat bars!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I can’t get enough of these bars. They make the best snack!
Did you change this recipe? I really loved the one that had white corn syrup in it if you have the old recipe before updating it, it didn’t have turbinado sugar in it either. Let me know if you can help!! Thx❤️
Yes, but here is the old recipe. 🙂
NGREDIENTS
3.5 cups oats quick cooking
1/2 cup butter unsalted
1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
1/4 cup corn syrup light
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 F and line a 9 x 9 inch pan with parchment paper.
Grind 2 cups (using a food processor) of the oats until it looks like a fine flour. Pour in a bowl and stir in the other 1.5 cups of un-ground oats.
Melt the butter, sugar and syrup over medium heat until the butter is completely melted and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk in the milk and vanilla extract.
Pour the butter mixture over the oats and stir until combined. Spoon the mixture into the pan and press the oats into the pan firmly and evenly. I used a metal spatula and pressed as hard as I could. Use cooking spray on the spatula if it is sticking.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the edges are slightly golden. Cool before slicing.
Thank you so much!!! I made the new version last night and it’s delicious too, I am happy to have the old version again though! Love it❤️
Dare I say- I think these are BETTER than Starbucks!! So yummy!! Thanks for the recipe.