Scottish bannocks are mentioned so often in the Little House in the Highlands series I've been rereading lately, that I decided I just had to make them. Historically, bannocks were a staple "quick bread" in Scotland, ranging from heavy, flat cakes to light, spongy bread packed with raisins, depending on the time period.
The type of bannock I prepared was just a typical bannock, with a floury crust and a soft, thick inside. Honestly, it tasted a lot like a thick biscuit. I added dried cranberries and chopped fresh cherries to some bannocks, for variety. Although the bannocks were not as flatbread-like as I expected, that is probably because I baked the bannocks instead of frying them.
The type of bannock I prepared was just a typical bannock, with a floury crust and a soft, thick inside. Honestly, it tasted a lot like a thick biscuit. I added dried cranberries and chopped fresh cherries to some bannocks, for variety. Although the bannocks were not as flatbread-like as I expected, that is probably because I baked the bannocks instead of frying them.
Scottish Bannocks
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups water
optional: dried cranberries or raisins
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Then pour melted butter and water over the mixture. (Optional: add dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries, or other fruit to the dough for added flavor.)
Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead gently. You can either roll out the dough into one large circle or make small individual circles.
If you wish, you can fry the bannock(s) on a greased frying pan, about 15 minutes on each side. Or you can bake the bannock(s) on a greased frying pan at 350 F for 25-30 minutes.
I baked my bannocks as individual buns. The bannocks with fresh cherries were the first to go, and in my opinion, the most flavorful.
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups water
optional: dried cranberries or raisins
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Then pour melted butter and water over the mixture. (Optional: add dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries, or other fruit to the dough for added flavor.)
Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead gently. You can either roll out the dough into one large circle or make small individual circles.
If you wish, you can fry the bannock(s) on a greased frying pan, about 15 minutes on each side. Or you can bake the bannock(s) on a greased frying pan at 350 F for 25-30 minutes.
I baked my bannocks as individual buns. The bannocks with fresh cherries were the first to go, and in my opinion, the most flavorful.
Enjoy! :)