Wee Bannocks Recipes

SCOTTISH BANNOCKS RECIPE

Steps:

• If you're making your own buttermilk do that first (see notes).
• Mix your oatmeal, salt and flour together in your bowl.
• Measure our your buttermilk, if you've made extra, and add the baking soda.
• Add your buttermilk mixture slowly to the oatmeal and flour mix, you may not need it all so add around a cup then use a spoon to bring it together before continuing with the rest if necessary.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and split into two.
• Manipulate the dough into a flat circles the right size to suit your griddle, skillet or frying pan. Be careful not to handle the mixture too much at this stage to avoid taking any air the baking soda has added from it.
• Heat your griddle/skillet with a little oil.
• Indent your dough slightly to provide 4 sections, like you would a pizza.
• Once it's hot add the dough to your griddle/skillet.
• You should only have to turn your bannock once, leave it to brown on the underside but don't be afraid to give it a shuggle to make sure it's not stuck to the surface of the pan.
• Once you're sure it's cooked turn the bannock over to lightly brown the other side. You should be able to tap it and hear a hollow sound.
• If your bannock is too thick you may need to cook for longer on the second side but this will depend on your griddle/skillet size.

BANNOCK

Steps:

• Measure flour, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir to mix. Pour melted butter and water over flour mixture. Stir with fork to make a ball.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface, and knead gently about 10 times. Pat into a flat circle 3/4 to 1 inch thick.
• Cook in a greased frying pan over medium heat, allowing about 15 minutes for each side. Use two lifters for easy turning. May also be baked on a greased baking sheet at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes.

TRADITIONAL BANNOCKS (SCOTLAND)

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour cinnamon & salt.
• In a smaller container, lightly whisk the eggs together with the sugar & stir that mixture into the flour mixture with just enough milk to give a pouring consistency, beating well until bubbles form.
• Grease & heat a griddle, then pour tablespoons of the mixture onto the gridle, tilting to spread the mixture thinly.
• As soon as the bannocks are golden brown underneath, perhaps about 3-4 minutes, flip them over & brown on the other side.
• Cool on a wire rack before serving with butter & honey.

BANNOCK II

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, water and oil. Knead on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes. Let it rest for a minute, then spread out onto a cookie sheet to 1 inch thickness. Poke holes in the dough using a fork.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bottom is golden when you lift up the bread to take a peek.

WEE BANNOCKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the oatmeal, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter pieces, and rub or cut in until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Pea-sized lumps of butter are okay. Set aside the 6 Tbsp of butter for cooking. Stir in the chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Mix the buttermilk and baking soda together. It should foam a little. Add to the flour mixture, and mix gently and quickly with a spatula, until a dough forms. If needed, add a little extra buttermilk or flour to adjust the consistency; it should look wet, but not soupy. Heat a large cast iron griddle over medium-low heat. Cut a slice of the reserved 6 Tbsp butter and add it to the pan along with a bit of canola oil. Swirl the fat around the pan. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of the dough into the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the bottom of each wee bannock is golden brown and crisp. Then carefully flip each bannock using a spatula. Press down lightly if necessary so that each bannock is about ½ inch thick. Allow to cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until bannock feels firm in the middle and the edges no longer look raw. Monitor the griddle for temperature and add more butter and canola oil between batches as needed. Transfer the bannocks to a wire rack. Cool briefly and serve warm. Can also be reheated in the microwave or a warm griddle. Delicious with coffee or tea.