This was an interesting review for me. I'd no idea you could buy mixes for things like flapjacks. Or indeed, that it was possible to make one yourself without using, say, half a tin of golden syrup.
JustJaks specialises in fruity oat bar mixes. Run by two sisters, the company has a range of oat bar (aka flapjack) mixes, plus some seasonal ones. There's also accessories on the site, like children's aprons and gift kits.
We recieved the JustJaks Happy Holidays Flapjack Mix. At least that's what it says on the box. On the website it is called the Happy Holidays Oat Bar Mix (£3.75). Whatever the name, the end result is the same!
Read on to see how I got on.
The JustJaks Happy Holidays Flapjack Mix can in a slim, plain brown, cardboard box. On the inside lid is a beautifully designed set of instructions. On the bottom of the box is an equally stylish info box and ingredients list. Tightly packed inside is a packet of oats, and a packet of dried fruit.
You need to provide the fruit juice that's used to combine the mix together.
The mix is a fruity combination of sultanas, tasty dried pineapple & mango, mixed together with coconut. With 150mls apple juice added to the mix you can then bake it in the oven. Each 305g pack makes 8 large bars or 16 bite size servings.
First gather together your utensils. You'll need a mixing bowl, and a wooden spoon. The instructions also ask for a spatula, but I don't know why. I didn't need to use one. Next, you need an 18cm by 18cm baking tin, either non stick or greased. I assumed by the measurements they wanted a square one, but we don't own one of those. The nearest I could get was a round cake tin measuring 19cm.
I gave my son the job of tipping everything into the bowl, which he loved. Then measuring out the apple juice, and tipping that in. The instructions called for 1 minute of mixing like mad! Not something a 7 year old is particularly good at, so we took it in turns. He did one minute, then I did a minute of mixing.
I'd considered just using one of my square baking tins, and just sort of shaping it into a square in the middle. However, once I started pressing the mix into the tin I realised you really do need to have the right sized container, or near as, to get that even spread. I pressed it out using the palm of my hand.
Then it was into the oven, gas mark 4, for approximately 16 to 20 minutes. It smelled gorgeous. The apple juice gave it a really sweet tang. My husband came home half way through, and commented on what a great smell it was.
Finally it was time to pull it out of the oven. I have to say that by this point, I was absolutely starving. But I waited for the oat bars to cool down. You're supposed to let it cool for five minutes, then separate into 8 slices, or 16 bite size chunks, and put it in the fridge for another 30 minutes.
I couldn't wait that long so had my first slice straight away. It was still warm, and delicious. The oat bars are gorgeous after they've been in the fridge too. I don't think this is a recipe that you can do wrong in any way.
And after all that? My son wouldn't touch it. Not with those icky dried fruit in there. Sigh. Well never mind, that left lots more for me. For some odd reason, my husband thought he was going to get a share. Goodness knows why!
Pros: good price, easy to do, all natural, fun to make up with the kids, absolutely delicious
Cons: yeah, for some kids there's just no way they're going to eat dried fruit, even if they do make it themselves
Overall verdict: 8/10
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