… well, my first week back to work has come and gone and annoyingly it all feels very normal and as though Christmas never existed which of course is very frustrating because I want to feel as though the world stopped magically just a little bit and that it’s quite a big deal to come back into the swing of things… yet in other ways it’s great to get stuck in and of course it’s quite nice to have it all be this easy because this year is going to be a big year and if I can sink into it like a warm bath and be this comfortable this early then all is good. Of course i’m trying to be good when it comes to health and fitness but the early morning starts are wiping me out… I tried to wake up early on the last few days of the holiday just to ease me back into these dark starts but it doesn’t seem to have helped much… there is nothing more comforting than that warm bed… or perhaps a naughty slice of flapjack…
millionnaires chocolate truffle flapjacks
oh sod it! I realise we’re still in January and I really should not be baking anything quite so sweet or tempting but there was a box of leftover belgian chocolate truffles in the fridge along with a block of almond shortcrust pastry left-over from Christmas that was in dire need of using… plus I wanted something easy and shareable to take into the office, after all… we all need a little sweetness at work, I think it’s supposed to be the most depressing week of the year or something…
for the flapjacks
175g butter
200g soft brown light sugar
6 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
300g rolled oats
for the almond and cream cheese pastry
the finely grated zest of a clementine
roughly 250g left-over chocolates – cut into chunks
start with the pastry – sift the flour, baking powder and sugar into a bowl, add the butter and rub until it resembles breadcrumbs – add the cream cheese, ground almonds, grated clementine and egg yolk, take a knife and mix until it comes together into a dough, you may need to add a little milk here, as I did. – chill the dough for at least 30 mins
once chilled roll out the pastry on a well-floured surface until nice and thin and then place into your flapjack tin… trim a little but this isn’t hugely important, then sprinkle with the chocolate chunks
pre-heat the oven to 180C and grease and line an oblong flapjack tin
for the flapjacks melt the butter, sugar, syrup and spices in a large pan and then once melted take it off the heat, add the oats and stir well
spoon into the baking tin on top of the chocolate and pastry, ensuring you place it all over the chocolate before spreading out so that the chocolate is spread evenly underneath… and bake for 20-25 mins until golden
cool on a wire rack but cut them into squares whilst they’re still a little warm
i’m linking these little beauties to the marvellous we should cocoa challenge founded by Tin and Thyme and hosted this month by Lovely Appetite and has the theme of Simple Recipes
it’s also going over to tea time treats hosted by Lavender and Lovage
eat and of course, enjoy!
Bad boy. Where's the carrots? The flaxseed? The coconut oil?!
*tuts*
I love Danny's comment. 😉 Seriously, why are people picking on poor January? I know most of us went a little nuts let month (and mince pies, and Prosecco) but I am all for just cutting back on the constant grazing and sipping and just getting back to normal. There should always be room for a small square of something gorgeous and hoe made like this. And we can't just let those truffles go to waste…
I love this, sod the new years diet and eat this gorgeous flapjack 🙂 x
A GENIUS idea with the truffles Dom and a FAB entry for Tea Time Treats too! Thanks so much for entering these decadent treats into this month's challenge! Karen
I usually refuse the text shorthand of OMG etc. But, OMG, these look so tempting. LOL! Particularly as I tried this pastry on your recommendation recently and really loved it.
Oooh these look delicious! I would love to adapt it and make it low carb 🙂
So… just the butter and cinnamon then?
These look absolutely incredible, I really need to try them.
Just as well you don't have to be a millionaire to eat them! I love the sound of these and particularly the almond pastry. I'm with Kellie on the 'why January?' after all that's when we have all the left over stuff to use up. Just finished eating Christmas Cake and Black Bun but still have mince pies in the freezer. I think March is a better time to think about lighter food.
What a great use for those truffles. This looks incredibly delicious!
Oops! Looks like someone may be doing an extra couple of miles in the gym! But who cares? These look like they will be worth the extra burn! Flapjack AND pastry AND chocolate? Yes please!
Oh my they look so decadent and so naughty in January!!
I rarely say no to flapjacks and these look tasty!
I go easy in them as they are high in calories.
I'm really into oats at the minute! This look absolutely delicious, totally worth going out to buy truffles for!! (as I ate all mine at christmas 😉 )
Thanks for linking up to We Should Cocoa!
I'm all for a little naughtiness in January and these flapjacks look and sound amazing. These dark and damp mornings are truly horrible, so good for you I say. I really must make your cream cheese pastry one day, it sounds too good to miss. Thanks for playing along with #WeShouldCocoa 🙂