Southern Batter Bread Recipes

EASY BATTER BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
• Stir sugar into yeast/water mixture, let mixture sit until tiny bubbles start to form.
• Add butter, salt and half the flour.
• With electric mixer on medium speed, beat batter for 2 minutes.
• Add remaining flour, stirring by hand (or on low speed) until well blended and smooth (batter will be very thick, like a very soft dough).
• Cover bowl with a tea towel, and let the batter rise in a warm draft free place for 30-60 minutes or until doubled.
• Beat the batter by hand, about 25 strokes (the dough will deflate).
• Spread batter evenly into a greased 8x3 or 9x4 inch loaf pan.
• Smooth out the top of the loaf by patting it with your floured hand.
• Cover pan, and let batter rise again (about 30-60 minutes) until dough has reached the top of the pan.
• Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the loaf sounds hollow when the top is lightly tapped.
• Remove from pan.
• For a softer crust, brush the top of the hot loaf with butter.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Bread slices best when it is cooled.

BATTER WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Mix together shortening, sugar, salt, yeast, and 1 1/5 cups flour. Add warm water and beat by hand about 300 strokes, or 3 minutes, with an electric mixer. Add remaining flour, scraping bowl often, and mix all together until smooth.
• Cover with a clean cloth and let rise until doubled in volume.
• Stir dough down gently, and spoon into a lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pan (the batter should be sticky). Pat down with floured hands to help shape. Cover again, and let rise for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake for about 45 minutes. Place on a cooling rack, and brush top with melted butter.

SALLY LUNN BATTER BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter, sugar, salt, eggs and 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Do not knead. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Stir the dough down. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. , Bake at 400° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool., Combine the honey butter ingredients until smooth. Serve with bread.

SOUTHERN BATTER BREAD

Steps:

• Bring the water and margarine to a boil on the stove or in the microwave. While it is heating, combine the cornmeal, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water into the cornmeal mixture. Stir it up quickly with a whisk to prevent lumps. The cornmeal will swell up and absorb the water. Slowly add the milk to the hot cornmeal. If you add it to fast it will wind up lmpy, which is not real bad, but it's better if you try to keep it smooth. So slowly stir in the milk, a little at a time. When all the milk is added, break the eggs into the bowl too. You don't add the eggs before the milk because the hot cornmeal will cook them. Beat up the batter until the eggs are well incorporated. Then turn the batter into a well oiled 2-quart casserole, or 8-inch square pan, or even a ten inch iron skillet. Bake the bread at 375F for abot40 minutes. The top will be nicely browned and the mixture will jiggle a little bit when you shake the pan. Take it out of the oven and serve it hot.