Classic Oat Bannock Bread Recipe

Written by
Terri Wuerthner
Chef-instructor, award-winning food writer, and 10th-generation Cajun who has authored two cookbooks.
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Terri Wuerthner
Updated 02/02/21
Classic oat bannock bread

The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
259 Calories
16g Fat
27g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 259
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 20%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 361mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Protein 4g
Calcium 138mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Bannock bread originated in Scotland and is a flat, often unleavened bread, sometimes described as a giant scone. Bannock is most commonly made of oats, as in this recipe, but can also be made with flour, barley, and even ground dried peas. Scottish explorers brought bannock bread to North America. Today, it is mainly associated with Indigenous peoples in Canadian and is a popular bread to make during wilderness activities.

This recipe for bannock bread, which has its origins in Acadia (now Nova Scotia), is a crumbly loaf that can be mixed in five minutes. The bread is baked in a pie plate and then cut into wedges, much like scones or soda bread. The sugar makes this an excellent breakfast bread, but feel free to cut the sugar down to a tablespoon or two for a more savory bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon corn oil
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup rolled oats (not instant oats)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 ounces butter (melted and cooled)
  • 1/2 cup water (or more if needed)
  • Garnish: butter, jam, syrup, and honey

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Classic oat bannock bread
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  2. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Grease a pie plate with the oil.

    Grease a pie plate
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  3. Mix the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl until well combined.

    Mix dry ingredients
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  4. Add the melted and cooled butter and stir just until mixed.

    Add butter
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  5. Add the 1/2 cup water and stir just until blended; don't over-mix or the bread will be heavy. Small lumps are okay as long as the flour is absorbed into the dough.

    Add water
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  6. Place the dough on the pie plate. Lightly flour your hands and gently pat the dough evenly onto the plate.

    Place dough on pie plate
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  7. Score the dough into 8 wedges to make cutting easier when the bread is done.

    Score the dough
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  8. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until light golden brown and slightly darker around the edges.

    Bake in the oven
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  9. Cut into 8 pieces and serve with butter, jam, syrup, and honey.

    Cut into 8 pieces
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  10. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • This is a good recipe to use to teach kids how to bake, as the dough is simple to make and is just patted into a pie plate—there is no rolling or cutting. The texture is a bit like shortbread, and it's a perfect breakfast for kids and adults on the go. Also, consider serving it for dessert when you are in the mood for something that isn't too sweet. 

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