Food - Drink
The Rustic Oatcakes You'll Find Across Nova Scotia
By CLARICE KNELLY
History of Oatcakes
Thanks to Scottish immigrants, oatcakes arrived in Canada in the 18th century as a convenient and hearty snack to be enjoyed at any time. While early oatcakes were primarily savory, both sweet and savory versions have emerged, but the most popular option in Nova Scotia remains the crunchy, buttery oatcake.
Ingredients
The first ingredient for oatcakes is, of course, rolled oats, along with flour, brown sugar, sea salt, baking soda, water, and fat, like shortening or unsalted butter. Traditional oatcakes are quite simple, but feel free to add any spices you like such as cardamom, cinnamon, or nutmeg, or even add nuts, seeds, or dried fruits.
How to Make Oatcakes
The first step to make oatcakes is to combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and massage the butter into them, then add water to create a sticky dough. Roll out the dough and cut it into circles, or squares and bake until they’re golden brown and have achieved your desired texture, whether chewy or crunchy.
How to Eat Oatcakes
If you don’t want to make your own oatcakes, don’t worry because they’re easy to find throughout Nova Scotia. Traditionally, you would pair oatcakes with a hot cup of coffee or tea and top them with fruit, jam, or butter. but you can also opt for updated versions drizzled with peanut butter or dipped in chocolate.