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Nova Scotia oatcakes

Crisp, buttery sweet oat biscuits from Cape Breton

Nova Scotia oatcakes are nothing like the plain Scottish kind: Cape Breton bakers, with their Highland roots, made them sweeter and richer, with butter and brown sugar, so they crunch like a cross between a biscuit and shortbread. They are sold at every coffee shop in Antigonish and Baddeck and eaten with tea, or with a slice of sharp cheddar. A common mistake is rolling them thick; 5 mm gives the proper snap. Chef's tip: chill the rolled dough before cutting so the squares stay sharp.
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
20
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Ingredients

Serves20

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (1)

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan) and line two trays. Mix 7 oz rolled oats, 5 ½ oz plain flour, 3 ½ oz brown sugar, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda.

    5 min
  2. Step 2: Rub in 5 ½ oz cold butter until it looks like coarse crumbs, then add 3 tbsp cold water and press together into a firm dough.

    5 min
  3. Step 3: Roll out between two sheets of baking paper to 5 mm thick and chill for 15 minutes.

    15 min
  4. Step 4: Cut into 6 cm squares and lift onto the trays.

    3 min
  5. Step 5: Bake for 15–18 minutes until golden brown at the edges. Cool on the tray; they crisp as they cool.

    18 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
160 kcal
Protein
2 g
Carbs
18 g
Fat
9 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does nova Scotia oatcakes take?
About 35 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
What can I use instead of rolled oats?
Quick oats, same amount.
What can I use instead of plain flour?
Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).

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