Nova Scotia Oatcakes Recipes

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.

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.

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!