Deanne Fitzpatrick » Diary, Recipes » oatcakes…..from the studio
oatcakes…..from the studio
Dear Diary , for years I made these oatcakes…the one shown here were made by my faithful friend Jane Allen, who makes them for me during our workshops. It is a recipe found in a church cookbook at the little Anglican Church where I was married, and my children were baptised. It was submitted by my friend’s mother, Mrs. Sheila Sanford.
When Jane makes them she adds a little extra sugar. She has never said that but I can just tell. They are delicious either way
Studio Oatcakes
recipe from Mrs. Sheila Sanford
These are a studio favourite, good old fashioned Nova Scotia oatcakes. They’re the real thing. Great served with maple butter, honey or cheddar cheese. Nothing better that these with a cup of King Kole tea…red Roses , or Morses… they are all good
3 cups oats, 3 cups flour , 1 cup sugar , 1 cup butter, 1 cup shortening, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix all ingredients together, and work into softened butter and shortening. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into circles with a glass. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
Years ago, the CBC radio personality Shelagh Rogers came to visit me at my studio when it was in my house. I was out at the beach when she got there so the woman who worked with me at the time called the shore to say…”You got to come in , Shelagh Rogers is here.” I said let me talk to her cause I was thirty minutes away. I said, ” Shelagh do you have time to wait. I’d could make you a lovely cup of tea and I’d love to meet you.”
She said she would wait so I rushed in all excited to meet her and her husband. She had interviewed me that winter on her national radio program, This Morning, and said she might come to visit but I never expected her to really darken my door, CBC celebrity that she was.
I knew I had these oatcakes in the freezer so I had something nice to offer her. I had been at the shore for weeks and had not worried about the house fridge. When I got there we had a little buzz to meet each other in person and I brought her into my kitchen for tea. I started to make it , and my cupboards were bare. I said, “I’m so sorry Shelagh, I don’t have a bit of cheese to go with these oatcakes but they are lovely on their own.” She said, “I have cheese in the car I’ll go get it.”
Then I went to pour the tea, and she took milk. I said, “I’m so sorry Shelagh, I am out of milk.”. Out she went again, to get the makings for the “lovely cup of tea she was promised. She said, “No problem, I have milk in the car.” I thought she must have a grocery store out there but it turned out they were camping, and we were all lucky for it.
At least I knew I had some really oatcakes in the freezer, and that they could not be beat. If Shelagh Rogers wasn’t such a lovely person I’d have been embarrassed but she made it easy, and came up with half the lunch herself.
She came back years later to visit and she ddid not even remember that she had to go out to the car to get the cheese and milk…but she remembered how good those oatcakes tasted.
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I use minute, but the big flakes would be great also, more chewy I think
Could you tell me what kind of oats you use for these amazing oatcakes? Minute oats or large Flake , etc ??
thank you… can’t wait to try them.. they look just like my mom used to make .
It’s Chistmastime and I had seen the recipe for these yummy oat cakes so decided this was a good time to try them. Almost didn’t make them though because they were not the usual fancy-dancy holiday cookies you usually see. But am I glad I did! They are easy to make and even bake in the time and oven temp you give. We just love them and each of us gobbled down several after they came out of the oven. This is a keeper recipe and I have given them a new name: Plain Janes. Destined to be made in our family for years and years. Thanx and happy holidays.
Thanks for the tip Deanne, brown sugar it will be!
I sleep well and lots…read myself to sleep usually. I would add a little brown sugar.
What do you do Deanne to make them sweeter? You peeked my interest so I went back and re-read the article. I see now why yours are a bit sweeter; however, sweet or not they are soooooo good and I know they will become a favourite for the Doucette family! Next time I bake them, which I know will be soon I’ll add a bit more sugar to see which way we like them the best! Thanks.
Just out of curiosity, do you sleep? I just posted this comment earlier and I’ve noticed that you always promptly reply. You are a wonder!
thanks Nancy, the ones at the studio are usually a little sweeter
Deanne, this Oatcake recipe is the Best. I ate one at the hookin and I was hooked! Today as part of my Christmas baking I made your Oatcakes and they turned out great. They are very easy to make and if you follow the recipe will have great results. I made my usual things that our children always request at Christmas even though they or their spouses can bake very well. They seem to think that Mom’s are always better! (I have great kids, eh? ha,ha!!) Well it could also be a ploy to get Mom to do the baking, I know. Both children and their families will be the recipients of some of these wonderful oatcakes. My husband also thought they were great! Thanks for sharing some of your great recipes, Deanne, you are very generous.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and staff. All the Best for a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012! I’m sure I’ll be visiting in the New Year. Take care and enjoy the Holidays!
These are divine. Brings back memories of when I visited Deanne in Amherst when her studio was on Electric Street. A friend and I commuted from Ottawa to take Deanne’s course in creativity and stayed at Brown’s Bed and Breakfast in Amhert. The owner served these delicious oat cakes for a treat and after she caved and gave us the recipe I’ve been enjoying them ever since!
add more brown sugar, you’ll like them that way
I am going to try these Deanne, but what I invision mine to look like is not the same as those in the picture. I suspect I will be eating them with a spoon as they will likely crumble into a hundred pieces. Wish me luck. xo
Sorry, I just noticed it.
Thanks again
Christine
Deanna: Could you share your recipe here. I had some while I was in CapeBreton and they were wonderful. I also love the oatcakes that come from Scotland as my Mom is from there and I grew up eating them.
I really enjoyed your studio when I visited 2 weeks ago from London, Ont. I came in when the 2 ladies from Edmonton where there. We passed the on the TransCanada a while later.
Christine
thanks Sheila, I was glad to have you….
Hi Deanne. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the workshop I took from you in May – Freestyle Landscapes – and the Oak Cakes – they were just the best! I have now printed the recipe and will be making them tonight. I would keep them in my studio but they would not last and would end up on my waistline. Thanks for being the person you are and the most inspiring hooker. Hope to get back there again before too long. Sheila
Oh, I have made these so many times now! JUST LOVE THEM! I make some sandwiched with dates in between ( like the filling for date squares) and my hubby just ADORES them! As a Maritimer, they remind me of being at my grandmothers house, safe, warm, and delicious. I have passed this recipe onto my sons in Boston and in Colorado as well….they are loved by a lot of people ( well, not my sons, although they are too, but the oatcakes are well loved,lol!)
Hugs,
Debbe
Thank you for the recipe! I just realized that these are the same oatcakes that I buy from Whole Foods ~ now I can make my own! Yippee!!
Many thanks for sharing the Oat Cakes with everyone. Betty G treated the Kingston Loopers to your delicious cakes at our meeting, we all wanted the recipe. Thx Betty and Deanne.
I am reminded of visits to my husband’s grandmother in Sackville, NB where she served up dishes of homemade oatcakes with a cold glass of milk — deeelicious. I will definitely be trying this recipe. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
glad you enjoyed it. Tell them to read the blog!
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! The oatcakes are wonderful. Can’t wait to serve them at my church brunch & hear the ladies say, “where did you get that recipe?” My reply: “I got them from a famous hooker!”
I baked your oatcakes this morning and just ate three cookies now ….perfect for a snow covered April day. They are delicious and I must say Shellagh is one of my favourite people too. Thanks for the comfort food. K
thanks for coming!
thanks for letting me know.
I think I’d freeze them after but freezing the dough might work too.
I e-mailed my Daughter and asked her if she could find some Oat cakes in Vancover Canada this week.
Happy Easter Everyone
Do you freeze the oatcakes after they are cooked or the dough? I’m going to make these for my church brunch in FLORIDA & label them appropriately!
that recipe helped sustain our family in a time of illness – it is so versatile. Brown sugar works well; vanilla or banana extact is fun too. Like your rugs, don’t be afraid to play
Thanks for introducing it! (yes, a stash is kept in the freezer!)
The oatcakes are great….will make them soon for my hubby and I to enjoy. Thanks Deanne for the workshop on Saturday….it was great:)
that she is…I was telling someone about you on friday…and I drove by your cottage today
Hi Deanne,
I,too, make Cape Breton oatcakes from the cookbook from the little Anglican Church (St. Mark’s) that I went to all my childhood (and was married in). I love Cape Breton oatcakes (I have to say that my recipe doesn’t call for much sugar, which is the way they’re traditionally made in Cape Breton.)
On another note, when I worked at CBC Halifax, I went on a ‘CBC Tour of The Maritimes’ with Shelash Rogers. We had SO much fun, doing radio shows in various places, going to Frenchy’s (where she bought a shirt and I bought a scarf) and stopping every so often for Shelagh to swim. She LOVES to swim.
Shelagh is a friend of my husband, John. And her husband is a very good freind of John’s. He works at CBC too .. and John went to several Olympics with him.
So, it was lovely to hear this Shelagh story. She is SO down to earth!
Roberta
couldn’t keep up! but a good idea
These should be included on the “shop” page!
I am glad I did. thanks Jodi.
hope you enjoyed the workshop today Crystal, thanks for coming.
They are so….yummy!
I love oatcakes due in part because they were Pa’s (R. John Gray) favorite cookies.
Thanks for bringing his light to my day.
Thanks pal.
get cooking! I passed on the salmon cakes recipes for you.
I agree with Shelagh, the hight light of your workshops are the oatcakes, well almost. Everyone dives into them, they always seem to be available, hmm hmm good. God, I could eat one right about NOW, but I have to finish Spring Cleaning.