A Bannocks Recipe for an Antarctic Explorer and Free Printable

"We were helpless intruders in a strange world, our lives dependent upon the play of grim elementary forces that made a mock of our puny efforts."

- Ernest Shackleton

We've been cooking our way around the world and today we're talking about a bannocks recipe from Antarctica.

Join us and explore cooking with kids.

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Did you know that The Antarctic Treaty, signed December 1, 1959, protects native Antarctic wildlife and habitats? This means that scientists and researchers who travel to Antarctica must rely on imported provisions throughout the duration of their stay on this icy continent.

That's right. There is no hunting or fishing in Antarctica. It is to be used for peaceful purposes only, which include scientific research and cooperation among nations. As humans, we're working together to educate ourselves while protecting an entire continent and its inhabitants.

However, back in the days of Irish Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, things were a bit different as a necessary means of survival. More on that in a bit.

Today, we're sharing a kid-friendly recipe, inspired by Cool Antarctica, for the food that Ernest Shackleton and his crew of the ship Endurance ate after being shipwrecked in Antarctica and trapped on the floating ice. It's a heck of a story and we're going to share some of it with you, along with some books that we enjoy reading about this true tale of adventure and survival.

Stick around to learn how to make bannocks, a food fit for an Antarctic explorer, and grab your free printable recipe with pics.

If you like this recipe, you won't want to miss mallorcas, buttermilk biscuits, easter bread, and Christmas cookies.

What Are Bannocks?

Bannocks are a circular flatbread originally from Scotland and the north of England. Our bannocks are made from einkorn flour, salt, baking powder, water, and butter. They're a very simple and versatile form of bread.

Is This an Easy Bannocks Recipe?

Yes, these bannocks are incredibly easy to make. The best part is since you don't need any eggs or milk to make bannock bread, kids can feel free to take their time and enjoy the sensorial experience of working with the dough to form the individual bannocks.

Learn more about homeschooling in the preschool and kindergarten years with this free homeschool course.

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A Bannocks Recipe for An Antarctic Explorer

The books Shackleton's Journey and Ernest Shackleton tell the tale of Ernest Shackleton and his expedition from London to Antarctica, which began in 1914.

Shackleton's Journey is an excellent choice for elementary readers while Ernest Shackleton is our preferred choice for preschool and kindergarten.

This scene from Ernest Shackleton shows the crew along with their dogs, pigs, and cat aboard the ship Endurance as they travel around the ice and among marine life in an attempt to cross Antarctica.

In the pages of Shackleton's Journey, the author provides a detailed account of the tragic and heroic circumstances of their expedition.

As history reveals, the ship eventually sank and Shackleton and his crew battled conditions on the ice at Ocean Camp, Patience Camp, and Elephant Island until some of them eventually reached safety at the Stromness Whaling Station and rescued the others.

Their creativity and ingenuity were major factors resulting in their survival.

If Shackleton were alive today and trapped on the ice floes, I'm confident he would enjoy having this bannocks recipe to share with his crew.

We used einkorn flour and pink himalayan salt to make this bannock bread but you can use whatever flour and salt you have on hand.

Ingredients

• einkorn flour
• salt
• baking powder
• water
• butter
• marionberry preserves

1. Measure the Flour for the Bannocks Recipe

Wash your hands with soap and water. Use a measuring cup or scale to measure the flour. We used a measuring cup to keep it as simple as possible for an Antarctic explorer. Add the flour to a medium bowl.

2. Add the Salt and Baking Powder

Use a measuring spoon to add the correct amount of salt and baking powder to the bowl.

3. Add Water

Add cool water to the bowl.

4. Mix it All Together

Mix the ingredients using a silicone spatula, spoon, or your hands. Remember, we are thriving in Antarctica so we're not using an electric mixer for this part.

This kolach bread recipe includes some fun with an electric mixer and these Peruvian donuts explore dough made with butternut squash and sweet potato.

The dough should be sticky and look similar to this.

5. Roll the Dough into a Ball

Add flour to a silicone baking mat or other work surface and transfer the dough to the mat. Roll the dough into a ball.

6. Cut the Dough into 8 Sections

Use the dough scraper to cut the dough in half. Cut each of those sections in half to make 4 total sections. Cut each of those sections in half and you should have 8 sections of dough on your mat.

7. Form the Bannocks

Grab a section of dough and roll it into a ball. Use your fist or the palm of your hand to flatten the dough ball into a circle shape. Place the bannock onto a sheet pan when finished. Grab the next section of dough and repeat this process until all of the dough is on the sheet pan.

There's no need to rush here and the bannocks don't need to be shaped perfectly. Kids can feel free to explore the dough and create various shapes as they work.

This Antarctic cabbage pie provides another opportunity to work with dough while igniting interest in Antarctica.

8. Heat a Frying Pan on Medium Heat

Remember when we were talking about hunting in Antarctica? Well, this is where some of that would've come into play. We're fresh out of seal and penguin blubber as well as salvaged shipwreck metal, so we're going to use our kitchen stove and some butter for this part. Feel free to get creative here.

Once all the dough has been shaped for bannock bread, wash your hands and head to the stove with the bannocks, butter, a knife, and a spatula. Turn the stove on and heat a frying pan on medium heat.

9. Add Butter to the Pan for the Bannocks Recipe

Once the frying pan is hot, slice a piece of butter and add it to the pan.

10. Place a Bannock in the Pan

Let the bannock cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.

11. Flip the Bannock Bread Over

Flip the bannock over and cook on the other side. Make sure the bannock is completely flat in the pan to ensure it's evenly cooked.

12. Remove from Heat when Cooked

Remove the bannock from heat when it's finished cooking and place it on a plate or serving dish. Repeat steps 9-12 until all of the bannocks are cooked.

Don't forget to turn off the stove.

They're pretty tasty for survival food and so easy to make.

13. Spread your Favorite Preserves on Top

We love these marionberry preserves and this is what our kids wanted to spread on top of their bannock bread. It's an excellent pairing of salty and sweet.

14. Enjoy Alongside Your Favorite Antarctic Animals

You can dress for the weather, grab your favorite Antarctic animals, and enjoy some delicious bannocks while reading about Ernest Shackleton's expeditions.

Bannocks Recipe Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning how to make bannocks just like Ernest Shackleton and his crew did while surviving a treacherous journey to Antarctica. Both of the books shown above, Shackleton's Journey and Ernest Shackleton, are excellent resources to continue the story about Antarctica and some of its brave explorers.

Free Bannocks Recipe for Pre-Readers and Up

Don't forget to grab your free kid-friendly Bannocks Recipe printable above. Children can gather ingredients using the ingredient list, gather their equipment using the tools list, and prepare the meal using the step-by-step recipe cards, with assistance as needed.

The cards are easy to use, include pictures, and encourage confidence and independence in the kitchen. They also make an excellent addition to your Montessori continent box for Antarctica.

More in the Kitchen

• Ethiopian Sambusas
• West African Jollof Rice
• Asian Dumplings
• Native American Chili
• South American Stew

More Montessori Antarctica Resources

• Antarctica Unit Study
• Waseca Biomes (Get a $15 Off Coupon)