Australian Damper Bread

To prepare traditional Australian damper bread, place the flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.

Use a hand mixer to mix in the softened butter and milk until you have a smooth, firm dough.

If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.

Brush a cast iron pan with oil.

Shape the dough into a loaf and place in the pan.

Brush with milk and score crosswise into eight segments.

Put the lid on the pan and cook over hot embers (suspended if possible) for around 40 minutes, until golden brown.

If the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the underside, it is cooked.

Serve the Australian damper bread warm or cold.

Tips
Damper is a traditional Aboriginal bread and was traditionally cooked in the hot embers of a camp fire. The cattle herders watched and learned this technique and developed lots of savoury and sweet varieties of damper bread.