Damper Bread Recipes

DAMPER

Steps:

• Add the flour and baking powder in a bowl.
• Start mixing with a spoon and slowly add in the water (or milk).
• Add the salt and mix with the hands until all the flour is well moistened and it begins to form a ball. If necessary, add water (or milk) or flour to adjust the texture.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface, fold it, turn it over and knead it briefly until it is smooth. However, do not knead the dough too much as this will make the damper heavy.
• Preheat the oven to 410°F / 200°C.
• Heat a cast iron pot or Dutch oven in the oven for 5 minutes. Dust the pot with flour and add the dough in it. Flatten the ball of dough to the edges.
• Bake the damper for about 45 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
• The bread will swell during baking.
• Shake the pot from time to time during baking to ensure even browning.
• The bread is baked when a knife inserted in the center of it comes out clean. The bread should offer a hollow sound when tapped in the center.
• Let the damper sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) Grease a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour and the salt. With pastry blender or your hands, cut in butter. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the milk and water. Stir until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 8 inches across. Place the loaf onto the prepared pan and using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue to bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. The loaf should be golden brown and the bottom should sound hollow when tapped.

DELICIOUS DAMPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in milk until a soft dough forms. Form into a round and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove loaf from oven, cut in half and continue baking for 10 more minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool before serving.

AUSTRALIAN BUSH BREAD - DAMPER

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the middle.
• Pour in the milk and mix.
• Grease the camp oven or round baking pan and dust with flour.
• Place dough in the camp oven or pan.
• Cut a cross in the top surface of dough.
• Close lid of camp oven and bake in the hot ashes of your camp fire for about thirty minutes, or bake in preheated normal kitchen oven for 30 minutes at 220° C (425° F).
• Eat with a cup of tea, boiled in a billy.

DAMPER BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a baking tray with grease proof/ non-stick paper.
• Rub the the butter cubes, flour and salt together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. To get the large pieces of butter up to the surface, shake the bowl.
• Gradually add the water until the mixture resembles a soft dough. If it is too stiff after the 200ml add a little more.
• Knead for a minute or two (just gently) until all the dough is fully combined and the salt is evenly dispersed.
• Turn out onto a floured surface and shape into a large, thick disk, roughly 16-18cm wide, but it varies. Make 8 deep slashes across the top in a compass shape. Bake for 30 minutes. After it has turned crusty, turn the oven off and leave until ready to eat.

EASY AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375F / 190C /gas mark 4.
• Sift flour, salt and sugar into a large bowl, rub in the butter.
• Stir in milk and enough water to mix to a sticky dough.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead until just smooth.
• Place dough onto a greased baking tray and press into a 16cm round.
• Cut a cross in the dough, about 1cm deep; brush with a little extra milk then sprinkle with a little extra flour; bake for about 45 minutes; lift onto a wire rack to cool.