Oat Cakes
Porridge oats, butter and hot water pressed into a dough, cut into rounds and cooked for 20 minutes into crisp Scottish oatcakes. Twelve servings in 30 minutes.
Oat Cakes: Step by Step
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Heat the oven to 180°C / 355°F. Blend half the oats to a coarse flour and mix with the rest of the oats, the salt and bicarbonate.
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Melt the butter into the hot water, stir into the oats and press into a dough.
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Roll out to 5 mm thick and cut into rounds. Cook on a tray for 20 minutes, turning for the last 5 minutes. Cool on a rack.
Keep an Eye on These
- Blend only half the oats.
- Give the dough a minute to absorb the water.
- If your oven runs hot, check at 15 minutes.
- Cool on a rack so they crisp.
About This Recipe
Oatcakes are oats, fat, salt and water, and they have fed people in Scotland for centuries. They are drier and more rustic than a biscuit, and they carry cheese or butter well.
Pulse half the oats in a blender to a coarse flour and leave the rest whole. The mix of fine and coarse gives a dough that holds together with a pleasant crumble.
Melt the butter into the hot water and stir it in. The dough will look dry at first, but it softens in a minute as the oats absorb the water. Press it together with your hands.
Roll to about 5 mm thick, cut rounds with a cutter and lift them on to a tray. Cook at 180°C for 20 minutes, turning them over for the last 5. If your oven runs hot, check at 15 minutes. Cool on a rack. They crisp as they cool. They are traditionally eaten with cheese, butter or honey, and they are a good base for smoked fish and soft cheese.
On the Table Alongside
Cheddar · Smoked salmon · Butter and jam · Soup
Storing Leftovers
Keeps in an airtight tin for up to 1 week.
Quick Answers
How long does Oat Cakes take to make?
About 30 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 12.
What are the key tips for making Oat Cakes?
Blend only half the oats. Give the dough a minute to absorb the water. If your oven runs hot, check at 15 minutes. Cool on a rack so they crisp.
What should I serve with Oat Cakes?
Cheddar; Smoked salmon; Butter and jam; Soup.
How should Oat Cakes be stored?
Keeps in an airtight tin for up to 1 week.
Is Oat Cakes suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
Oat Cakes Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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