Why it works: Buttermilk and flour are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,721 recipes. Both carry ethanol, which smells alcoholic, ethereal. The science ↓
Oat Flake Bread
Ingredients
Directions
Mix the batter
Mix 1 cup molasses with ½ teaspoon salt.
Add 2 cups buttermilk, 1 packet seeded raisins (washed), and 4 cups ground oat flakes.
Add 1½ cups flour.
Mix 1 teaspoon soda with buttermilk and molasses, then stir in oat flakes, flour, and salt; add raisins floured with a little extra flour.
Bake
Grease five 1‑lb baking powder cans, fill them a little over half full, and bake in a very slow oven for 2½ hours.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Oat | 1/2 cup dry (40g) | 154 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Molasses | 1 tbsp (20g) | 58 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures. See the original page.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
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Buttermilk + flourtop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,721 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Molasses + buttermilktop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together526 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Molasses + flourtop 16% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,429 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Molasses
- Adds sweetness, moisture and the dark color and rich flavor typical of this bread.
- Buttermilk
- Its acidity reacts with the soda to give lift, and it adds moisture.
- Soda
- Reacts with the acidic buttermilk to release gas, helping the bread rise.
- Ground oat flakes
- Provide the main body and texture, absorbing liquid as the batter sets.
- Flour
- Adds structure so the batter holds together while baking.
The step that matters
Filling the cans little over half full. The soda and buttermilk release gas that makes the batter rise during baking. Leaving room in each can keeps the batter from overflowing and helps the loaf bake evenly.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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