Sunday, June 1, 2008

Flapjacks - Sweet & Simple Bakes


Sweet and Simple Bakes, a new league being hosted by Rosie and Maria, is exactly what I've been looking for. It is for beginner bakers, who are willing to try out new recipes, and improve their baking skills. You can read more about it here. They are wonderfully helpful to amateur bakers who have tons of questions (aka me!).

The first challenge they presented us with was Flapjacks with Cranberry and White Chocolate. I found myself shaking my head the entire time I was reading the recipe, because I couldn't get half the ingredients in India. And when I offered to sit this one out, I was given so much help (from Pixie , the Food Thesaurus and the S+SB folks), that I simply had to do it.

And boy, am I glad I did. I've found my foolproof, gorgeous, whip-up-in-no-time dessert/snack/breakfast! (and soon to be had for lunch and dinner, too!). It was sheer bites of deliciousness. Please, if you want to learn to make just ONE dessert, let this be the one - its sheer genius and completely idiot-proof.

Flapjacks with Raspberries and Chocolate
(Here is the original recipe - I made some substitutions)

(Clockwise: Oats, Butter, Flour, Raspberries, Chocolate, Maple Syrup and Demerara Sugar)

250g Butter
100g (1/2 cup) Demerara Sugar (I didn't think I was going to find this, and was all set to substitute granulated sugar - but it was right there in my regular grocery store)
200g (3/4 cup) Maple Syrup
250g Instant Oats
75g (1/2 cup) All-Purpose Flour
100g (a little more than 1/2 cup) dried Raspberries
100g Milk Chocolate

Preheat oven to 175 deg C.

If you are thinking, thats a lot of butter, yes it is. And maple syrup and sugar. But think of the fact that you are going to have lots of new friends after you make this. Pack it into lovely little presents and give it away, when the neighbours come knocking on your door demanding to know the source of the wonderful aroma!

Melt butter, sugar and syrup in a large pan over a very low heat (stirring to make sure it doesn't burn), until the butter and sugar have melted completely.


Meanwhile mix the flour, raspberries and oats together. This helps prevent the berries from sinking to the bottom while baking.


Add the flour mixture to the pan and stir together well.


Spread the mixture evenly into a square pan. Bake for 30 minutes, and remove from oven when it is golden. Let it cool.


Melt the chocolate over heat. When melting chocolate, use a double boiler - I used a small wok fit over a saucepan. Fill the saucepan with about 2" of water. It is important that the water not touch the bottom of the chocolate pan.




When the bake is slightly cooled, mark into even squares. Drizzle the chocolate over the flapjacks. At this point, you have to leave it alone and let it cool for at least an hour, since it is still very crumbly. And it's gonna be difficult to leave it alone - you just want to put your face into it, imbibe the wonderful smell, and eat every last morsel!

(my daughter's handiwork decorating the flapjacks with chocolate!)




I'm so glad I joined Sweet & Simple Bakes - I've found a new favorite recipe!

While I baked, it rained (complete with thunder and lightning) outside! After having 110 deg F weather for a few weeks, I was overjoyed to see the rain!! I guess the Gods were as surprised and pleased with the baking as I was! :)


Source of ingredients:
Oats, Demerara Sugar, Chocolate - Nilgiris Supermarket
Maple Syrup - Amma Naana
Raspberries - now available in Nilgiris Supermarket

42 comments:

Rosie said...

This is just wonderful!! I really DO like the sound of adding raspberries, maple syrup and milk chocolate!!

A great entry for this month’s Sweet & Simple Bakes - many thanks for partaking this month and hopefully many more :)

Rosie x

Deeba PAB said...

I love these Arundathi & sadly ddint ask as many questions as I should have! Were you able to source the maple syrup locally; what about dried raspberries? I've always liked the idea of flapjacks...you're egging me onto this one!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Great looking flapjacks, Arundathi.
Especially those cute chocolate squiggles.:)
And yes, where did you manage those ingredients?

Lavanya Raj said...

Arundhathi..it's so tempting..for next blog meet..can you bring this..

your daughter's handiwork is so admirable..first i was gazing..wheather any alphabets were written..

Srivalli said...

looks beautiful!

Red Chillies said...

Whoa! This is God-send for novice bakers like me as well and I am sure that if I make something as close as this one, the Rain-Gods will shower hurricanes and floods :-)

Rachel said...

Wow..Girl...that is way too good for a novice baker that you claim to be...I'm making this and will call you if any queries....

Maria♥ said...

Your flapjacks turned out absolutely great and I love all the pics!

Thanks for taking part and hoping you will be joining us in our next bake.

Maria
x

Arundathi said...

Rosie - definitely many more - i had so much fun! thanks for all your help!

PB&B - you've got to join! :) it's so much fun! yes, i bought the syrup locally but a friend had sent me some dried raspberries and blueberries, so used those. But I've seen the dried versions in my grocery store here, though they are a tad expensive. i hope to see you in S&SB next month!

Aparna - I'm going to amend my post with the sources - but I did get everything locally except the berries (which are also actually available here)

Lavi - Sure, I can definitely bring this! And i'm sure you guys will love it too. I was also a little amazed that maybe she was writing alphabets...but no...they're just squiggles.

Valli - thanks!

RC - :) please join too - hope to see you there in June!!

Rachel - once you make this you'll realize how simple it is! :) let me know how it turned out!

Maria - Thanks Maria for all your help and I loved making these! Felt very much like a "baker" lol! Can't wait for the next recipe!

Sangeeth said...

lovely recipe and post....u have a surprise in my blog :)

Cilantro said...

Delicious looking flapjacks, Arundathi. Good to know it rained. Jillunu oru Chennai...

Sig said...

Wow, now you've started invoking the rain gods with your cooking skills, huh? :D That's awesome... Those flapjacks look yummy!

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Dried raspberries sounds delicious!

Bhags said...

nice flapjacks, and thanks for introducing to this event, need to learn basic baking.....

P.S. I somehow failed to say this earlier, but that profile pic is real chic....:)

Kelly-Jane said...

I think I'm going to HAVE to try maple syrup in a flapjack, it sounds fabulous, and they look it too. Well done not giving up :)

Beyond Curries said...

Yummy, yummy, yummy. I can imagine how good it tasted.

Unknown said...

looks tempting..nice pics..got to try them..

Arundathi said...

Sangeeth - Thanks so much - just checked it out - very nice of you!

Cilantro - I don't know about Jillunu - but atleast breezy! :D Thanks!

Sig - I'm doing everything I can on my part to make Chennai cooler! :)

Lisa - Yup, they were! Thanks!

Bhags - Do join the group - it's a wonderful opportunity to learn some lovely basic recipes. Thanks!

Kelly-Jane - Thank you! :) Not sure how they taste with the golden syrup, but the maple worked very well!

Madhu - It was so good! :)

Sowmya - Let me know if you do!

Chawanmushi said...

Love those flapjacks of yours and your step by step photos too :-)

Swati Raman Garg said...

this just doesnt look one from a novice baker.. loooks good haan...
and hey i was looking for u at nite yesterday ;) u werent online..

Arundathi said...

Chawanmushi - thanks :)

Swati - I was looking for you!! I was online through the entire game! :-) Oh well - it was too sad!

Aparna Inguva said...

Hey Arundhati,
Thanks for dropping by my blog. What you have done here is great, creative usage of the ingridients. My baking starts and end with banana bread , The flapjack seem yummy and easy, its baking demystified for me. Thanks again
-Aparna

Siri said...

I love the idea of 'Sweet & Simple Bakes' Anu..I am up for next month's challenge..and the Flapjacks look yummo..GLOC!! *wink*

Hugs,
Siri

Sunshinemom said...

Do you know this is the younger twins favourite dish in The Bobbsey twins series? I have not tried them so far..and yours make me want to eat!

Mansi said...

that's a great-looking flapjack Arundhati:) def a lovely recipe, and love that melting chocolate on the top!:)

Arundathi said...

Aparna - sure, i do hope you try it - its easy and delicious.

Siri - aarrggh GLOC! stop stop! Good - I hope you join us next month!

Sunshinemom - we always knew flapjacks as pancakes in India (maybe because of the British) - I had never eaten these before! Didn't know that about the Bobbsey twins! :) thanks!

Mansi - Thanks!

Medhaa said...

wow, you dont look like you are new to baking, this has come out perfect.

Thanks for dropping by.

Arundathi said...

Medhaa - You've gotta make it to believe how easy it was - I'm definitely a novice! :-)

zlamushka said...

Arundathi, I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this one. I absolutely adore flapjacks. Have posted about it, ... oh how glad I am to have been paired with you :-)

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