County Clare Oatcakes Recipes

NOVA SCOTIA OATCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Add the shortening or butter and use 2 knives, a large fork, or your fingers to work the fat into the dry ingredients.
• Pour in the hot water and stir until everything comes together into a thick, sticky dough.
• You can roll the dough out on a well-floured surface, cut it into shapes, and set them on a large baking sheet. Or keep things simple and simply press the dough into an even 1/4-inch layer on a baking sheet. Score this large "cake" into smaller pieces: Use a knife to cut the dough into squares or rectangles or whatever shapes you like, but don't bother to separate the pieces; the pieces will bake back together but be easy to cut or break along that original cut line.
• Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. You can take them out now for chewier oatcakes or reduce the oven temperature to 325 F and bake until lightly browned, about 10 more minutes, for crisper oatcakes.
• When they have finished baking, if you've cut them into shapes, let them cool; if you've scored them, cut them apart while warm so they cool into squares (or rectangles or triangles or whatever you've cut them into).
• Serve and enjoy.

NOVA SCOTIA OATCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Dissolve baking soda in hot water (add a little more water if needed).
• Combine dry ingredients with butter, then add dissolved baking soda.
• Mold into a dough ball, then press it out onto a baking sheet. You can roll it out with a dough pin to make it thin as you want it to be (I recommend about 1/4 inch thick.)
• Cover and chill for 10-15 minutes to firm up the dough, then remove the oatcakes and score down the middle and across to make 8-10 squares (you'll use these lines for clean cuts after it's done baking).
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until they are golden brown. They should be crisp and crunchy, not chewy.
• Separate the cakes along the score lines with a thin knife and then allow them to cool.
• Enjoy with your favorite coffee or tea or add them to your day pack for some quick energy during a hike or a long road trip.

SCOTTISH OATCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Mix together the oats, flour, salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda. Add the butter, then rub together until it's the consistency of large breadcrumbs.
• Gradually pour in 60-90ml water from a recently boiled kettle, stirring until it forms a thick dough.
• Sprinkle some extra flour on a work surface and roll out the dough to about ½cm thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out about 16 rounds (the final number of oatcakes depends on the size of cutter you use).
• Place the oatcakes on a baking tray and bake for 20 mins or until golden.

STAFFORDSHIRE OATCAKES - TRADITIONAL ENGLISH HOTCAKES - PANCAKES

Steps:

• Pour the milk and water in a saucepan and warm gently on the hob. This is just to create good conditions for the yeast when the batter is mixed so, as always, keep it below 30°C.
• Add all of the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix together before starting to whisk in all of the warm milk and water. I was looking to get a reasonably thin batter and 600ml did the trick on this occasion. Of course, add less or more milk and water as the situation dictates. Once the batter is mixed, cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm room for about an hour, allowing the yeast to make the batter nice and bubbly.
• When it's ready, give the batter a gentle stir, smear a little butter or oil on a hot, non-stick skillet and add enough of the batter to thinly coat the bottom. Cook on one side until golden (about 3 minutes) and gently flip over and cook the other side for another couple of minutes.
• Note: As oatcakes contain less flour, and wholemeal flour at that, they contain less gluten and will be more prone to tear. I'm guessing this is why people bulk them up with plain flour, but it's by no means a problem, it just means a gentler hand is required. No vigorous skillet-shaking.
• This batter will yield about 6 large oatcakes. Don't just stick to savoury fillings, either. Fruit, berries, crème fraîche, syrup, ice cream are all brilliant with these pancakes.

STAFFORDSHIRE OATCAKES

Steps:

• Place warm water and warm milk into a large bowl. Stir in sugar and yeast, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until frothy. Mix in oat flour, whole wheat flour and salt, blending thoroughly. Cover bowl, and let stand in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Heat a large griddle or two skillets over medium heat, and grease well. Spoon enough batter onto the pan to make a thin pancake about 8 inches across for each one. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top surface is covered with holes. Turn over and brown on the other side. Place oatcakes on a warm plate until ready to serve. Best served immediately, but can be frozen and heated later.

OATCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix oats, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Rub in butter with your fingers until mixture is chunky. Pour in enough water to form a thick dough.
• Spread a thin layer of oats and whole wheat flour on a flat work surface. Turn out dough and pat to an even thickness. Cut into circles using the rim of a drinking glass. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.

CAPE BRETON OATCAKES

Steps:

• Stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Rub in shortening with fingertips until crumbly.
• mix in water with a fork until a ball forms, divide in half.
• On a floured surface roll out to 1/2" to 1/4" thickness.
• Traditionally they are cut into 2 1/2 inch squares, then triangles but some people like circles. your choice.
• bake on a greased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cheers!