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Home » Home Baking » Super Easy Traditional Scottish Oatcakes

Super Easy Traditional Scottish Oatcakes

Author: Karon Grieve Published : April 2020

Recipe
easy oatcakes
easy oatcakes
easy Scottish oatcakes

The humble oatcake is something of a tradition here in Scotland. The cracker of choice with cheese and just as at home with jam or beside a bowl of soup. This recipe is for my super easy traditional Scottish oatcakes really takes the biscuit!

easy oatcakes by larderlove

Oatcakes have been a staple of the Scottish diet for centuries. They used to be kept buried in oatmeal in a gimel (meal chest) to keep them fresh. You don’t have to go as far as that nowadays. Just keep these super easy Scottish oatcakes in the biscuit tin.

Oatcakes are healthy!

Oats are packed with two types of fibre, both soluble and insoluble fibre which means they help to promote healthy digestion and keep you fuller for longer.
Oatcakes have a high mineral content especially manganese and phosphorous and are excellent for maintaining energy levels. They also have a low glycaemic index  and oats are naturally gluten free

oatmeal in blue bowl with wooden spoon

Ingredients for oatcakes

You don’t need many ingredients to make these super easy Scottish oatcakes, just 4 ingredients plus a little warm water and a wee pinch of salt.

Oatmeal – use either medium or fine grade oatmeal for this traditional oatcake recipe.

Baking soda

Melted butter

    cutting out oatcake dough

    How to make oatcakes

    Scottish oatcakes are so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you’ve never bothered to make your own before.

    Simply put all your dry ingredients for oatcakes into a nice big bowl and make a well in the centre.

    Add the melted butter into this well and start adding the water a little at a time as your stir your oatcake dough and bring it together.

    Once you have a ball of dough give it a knead then wrap in clingfilm and pop it into the fridge for half an hour to firm up. This makes the rolling out and cutting of your homemade oatcakes a wee bit easier.

    Flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about 2mm thick. Now just cut out the oatcakes using a cookie cutter.

    Place the oatcakes on a baking tray and bake for approximately 25 minutes till they are golden.

      oatcakes on drying rack

      Alternative cooking method

      You can also bake your oatcakes in the old Scottish way on a girdle (or griddle) or even a heavy-based frying pan. Or on the simmering plate of your trusty Aga or Everhot. Cook for about 3 minutes.

      You’ll know when they are ready when the edges start to curl up a little. Now rub the tops with a little more oatmeal and pop under the grill to crisp them up and brown the tops.

      What to eat with oatcakes

      Serve these super easy Scottish oatcakes with cheese as part of a cheeseboard, with butter and jam, honey or marmalade or just on their won with a bowl of soap.

      I like them as a snack instead of crisps (chips) and dip them into any of my favourite dips from Tzatziki to Salsa.

      I’ve even been known to just have a plain oatcake and a square of dark chocolate when I feel the urge for a choccie treat with a coffee.

      These super easy Scottish oatcakes are perfect pantry staples. Check out my 50 Homemade Pantry Staples article for loads of ideas for making your own store cupboard basics.

      larder links

      Oh and here are some other fun oaty bakes for you to try too;

      Salt and Pepper Oatcakes

      3 ingredient oat and peanut butter cookies(+Video!)

      Oat and almond crumble crackers

      3 ingredient oatmeal pancakes

      Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.

      PS I made this recipe originally for my cookbook Simply Scottish Cakes & Bakes. Well you can”t really have a Scottish cookbook without doing oatcakes can you.

      Photos And Tips AboveMost of my recipes have step by step photos and useful tips plus videos too, see above.
      easy oatcakes by larderlove

      Super Easy Traditional Scottish Oatcakes

      Karon Grieve
      These super easy Scottish oatcakes are perfect with cheese, butter and jam or with a bowl of soup and super healthy too!
      4.50 from 2 votes
      Print Recipe Comment Bookmark Saved! Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 10 minutes mins
      Cook Time 30 minutes mins
      Course baking
      Cuisine Scottish
      Calories 169 kcal

      Ingredients
       

      • 225 g oatmeal fine to medium atmeal
      • 1/4 tsp baking soda
      • 1 pinch salt
      • 6 tbsp hot water
      • 1 tbsp butter melted

      Instructions
       

      • preheat oven to 160C and grease and line a baking tray
      • Put all dry ingredients into a large bowl and make a well in the centre
      • Add the melted butter and start mixing into the dry ingredients adding a little hot water as you mix
      • once you have a dough roll into a ball and wrap in cling film and pop into the fridge for half an hour
      • roll out on lightly floured surface to 2mm thick and cut into rounds with a cookie cutter
      • bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden and cool on a wire rack

      Notes

      These oatcakes will keep for a few days in a sealed tin. You can freeze the dough for up to 3 months

      Nutrition

      Calories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 342mgPotassium: 178mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 25IUCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg
      My Top Tips*Always read the full recipe first. *Assemble all your ingredients and everything you need before you start. *For baking check the size of tins I’m using as this makes a big difference to your cakes. * I use medium sized eggs unless otherwise stated. * I use extra virgin olive oil unless otherwise stated. * I use unsalted butter unless otherwise stated. * Check out My Preserving Kit!
      Tried this recipe?Mention @LarderLove or tag #LarderLove

       

      Filed Under: ALL RECIPES, Home Baking, Scottish Recipes

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      Comments

      1. leona says

        July 6, 2021 at 8:56 am

        worth noting leaving the dough longer in the fridge isn’t beneficial 🙂

        I cant roll mine. its a solid lump. tastes nice though.. ill be baking an oat slab

        Reply
        • Karon Grieve says

          July 6, 2021 at 10:01 am

          Hi Leona
          I’m a little confused as I advise leaving dough for 25-30 minutes which is what I do every time I bake these. I don’t advise any longer than that.
          K

          Reply
      2. Deborah MacDonald says

        January 4, 2022 at 12:26 am

        Thank you for an oatcakes recipe without sweetener!

        Reply
        • Karon Grieve says

          January 4, 2022 at 8:14 am

          Hi Deborah
          Glad you like the recipe, hope you make them
          K

          Reply
      3. Caroline Marti says

        August 13, 2023 at 12:26 am

        can you convert to american measurements (cups not g) for the oats and I’m going to use olive oil to make them vegan

        Reply
        • Karon Grieve says

          August 15, 2023 at 9:19 am

          Hi Caroline
          I give my recipes in both metric and imperial measurements, you will have to google for cups as we don’t tend to use those for measurements here.
          K

          Reply

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