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Close up cut damper on a chopping board with butter, bread knife and dishes on the sides, beetroot salad, mini roasted potatoes and slow cooker lam shoulder.
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Damper

This Aussie damper is about as iconic as Australian food gets. A quick easy rustic bread that was eaten by settlers camping in the Australian bush.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Dessert, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Australian
Keyword: Australian baking, camp fire bread, camp fire damper, camp oven damper, Classic Australian

Equipment

  • Baking tray OR a Dutch oven OR a camping oven OR 6 solid sticks

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (450gms) plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • (80gms) salted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup (250mls) milk
  • oil to grease

Optional add ins - add just before adding in milk

Savory

  • ½ cup tasty or parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup chopped herbs such as parsley and or chives

Sweet

  • ½ cup sultanas OR
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Oven cooking instructions

  • If using a Dutch oven make sure there is enough room in your oven with the lid on first. I have to put my oven rack on the bottom shelf and take out the other shelves to fit mine in.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 390°F (200°C).
  • Lightly grease a Dutch oven or baking tray with oil.
  • Add the baking powder to the flour and mix well.
  • Cube the butter and add to the flour. Rub the butter into the flour with your hands until fine bread crumbs form.
  • Add the milk and mix with a spatula initial until dough starts to come together, then switch to using your hands.
  • Shape the dough into a rough ball.
  • Put the ball into the Dutch oven or onto the baking tray. Cut two or three shallow lines in a cross/star shape.
  • If using the Dutch oven put the lid on. Bake in the oven for about 40 mins or until starting to go golden brown and makes a hollow sound when you tap the bottom.
  • Remove from oven, serve with your favourite toppings and enjoy!

Camping oven cooking instructions

  • Ideally wait until the camp fire has died down and you have hot coals to cook with.
  • Grease the camp oven with a little oil
  • Add the baking powder to the flour and mix well.
  • Cube the butter and add to the flour. Rub the butter into the flour with your hands until fine bread crumbs form.
  • Add the milk and mix with a spatula initial until dough starts to come together, then switch to using your hands.
  • Shape into a round ball with your hands
  • Put the ball into the camp oven. Cut two or three shallow lines in a cross/star shape.
  • Put the lid on the camp oven. Place on the coals and use a fire proof shovel to carefully mound some of the coals around the oven. You can put some on top as well if you like.
  • Bake in the oven for about 40 mins or until starting to go golden brown and makes a hollow sound when you tap the bottom.
  • Remove from camp oven and sever with your favorite toppings!

Camp fire/on a stick cooking instructions

  • Find four to 6 sturdy sticks, about 2 foot in length and half a finger thick.
  • Add the baking powder to the flour and mix well.
  • Cube the butter and add to the flour. Rub the butter into the flour with your hands until fine bread crumbs form.
  • Add the milk and mix with a spatula initial until dough starts to come together, then switch to using your hands.
  • Divide the mix into four to six pieces.
  • Roll the pieces out into long thin snakes about ½ foot long.
  • Starting at the top of the stick wrap firmly around, ensuring the dough is nice and close together.
  • Carefully Hold over the coals of the camp fire until the outside is golden brown.
  • Carefully remove from stick and fill with your favorite toppings. I like mine with butter and golden syrup, yum!

Notes

The damper is old fashioned rustic bread.  By its nature it's very rustic and can be a bit crumbly.  
I have included cooking instructions for the oven, camp oven or over a camp fire on a stick as I made it when I was a child.