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how to make damper

Prep

Cook

Total

Yield 1 loaf

Damper is quintessentially Australian fare. Whether you make it in a camp oven or wrap it around a stick and hold it over the fire - there's something special about making it yourself. 

Kids love cooking over the coals (and busy cooks will love my food processor method) 

Ingredients

4 cups self-raising flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

30 grams butter (room temperature)

1 cup milk

1/2 cup water

Instructions

Traditionalist version:

Sift the flour and salt. Stir in sugar. Rub in the butter using your fingertips until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.

Make a well in the top of the flour, pour in the milk and water and mix well with a knife(!) until the mix comes away from the sides of the bowl.

Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth. Shape into a round and cut a cross on the top. 

Amanda's Busy Mum Version:

Whack the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor. Give it a little mix.

Slice the butter into fine slivers. While the processor is running add the slowly add the butter, piece by piece.

Add the milk and water and process until the mix comes together.  

Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Whack the mix into a freezer bag and refrigerate until required. 

I like to make damper dough at home and take it camping rather than deal with the mess (and the labour-intensive traditional method) in a camp kitchen. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of days. Pack some extra flour just in case the mix becomes a bit wet in the fridge.

From here you can either shape your damper into a round loaf and bake it in a floured camp oven or wrap it around a stick and let the kids cook their own over hot coals. 

Serve with butter and golden syrup. 

Courses Camping

Cuisine Australian

Recipe by Cooker and a Looker - Australian Home Cooking at https://cookerandalooker.com/how-to-make-damper/