ARE BRITISH FLAPJACKS JUST PANCAKES? 'THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF' CLEARS IT UP

• Contestants prepared British flapjacks on last week's episode of The Great British Bake Off.
• Unlike the slang term for American pancakes, British flapjacks are actually a chewy oat bar.
• They're made with rolled oats, butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup and can be topped with practically anything.

If you tuned in for The Great British Bake Off last week expecting contestants to deliver a towering stack of IHOP-style pancakes to Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, the episode served up a surprise—at least for Americans.

While, yes, it was Flapjack Week on GBBO, the term actually refers to something entirely different in the United Kingdom and Ireland than it does in the U.S. Instead of flipping pancakes on the griddle, bakers were tasked with making (spoiler alert!) the chewy baked oat bars that are so popular overseas. Let's break down the difference.

Pancakes & American Flapjacks Are The Same Thing

Still confused? I gotchu. In the U.S., we use "pancakes" and "flapjacks" interchangeably, but they mean the exact same thing—think: your fave maple-syrup soaked stack of thin, round cakes made from batter. The latter is just a more casual slang version of the word!

British Pancakes Are Actually Different Too

Not to confuse you even more, but the Brits have a different take on batter-based pancakes, too. They're thinner, a little crispier, and typically folded into fours with filling. In fact, they're more like a French crèpe than an American pancake

So...What Are British Flapjacks Then?

The chewy, slightly sticky dessert bars are made from rolled oats, butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup. They’re baked in a flat, rectangular tray and cut into squares, similar to a brownie or blondie. They’re simple, but also customizable—just like viewers saw on British Bakeoff. You can add dried fruit (think: raisins or apricots), nuts, seeds, or maybe even a jam like Paul Hollywood’s own recipe.

Need a visual?

How Do You Make British Flapjacks?

Gather up allllll your ingredients (the aforementioned rolled oats, butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup), mix 'em up, and toss 'em in your pan. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Don't forget to top the bars with something fun too—if you need a li'l inspo, just tune into last week's GBBO.

2025-09-30T17:08:58Z