• SHOP PRODUCTS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

  • Home
  • Sensory Play
  • Art & Craft
  • Numeracy
  • Literacy
  • Science
  • Recipes
  • Video

How to make Damper Bread

January 19, 2015 by Kate 18 Comments

Do you know how to make damper bread? Damper is a traditional dense Australian soda bread that long ago was made by stockmen traveling long distances and carrying only basic food rations. It’s a bread that is typically cooked on the ground and over hot coals but can be made using a few simple ingredients at home, in the oven. What a great cooking activity for kids to do this Australia Day! 

how to make Aussie damper bread for Australia Day
Australia Day is approaching and so I began thinking of something ‘Aussie’ that I could share with you. 

I have really fond memories of cooking damper bread while on a school camp. The joy of this type of bread is that it really is so incredibly easy for kids to make themselves and tastes delicious, especially when it’s  still warm and has lashings of melting butter. 

Making simple 3 ingredient damper bread

Messy cooking with kids

Cooking damper bread with kids for Australia Day

3 ingredient damper bread for Australia Day

Damper Bread
2015-01-17 02:21:12
Serves 8
Traditional Australian bread
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 250g self-raising flout
  2. 25g butter
  3. 175g milk
  4. tsp (or a good pinch) of salt
Instructions
  1. Mix the salt in with the flour using a large bowl
  2. Add the butter and rub it into the flour with finger tips until it resembles fine bread crumbs.
  3. Add milk until you have a soft dough.
  4. Turn out onto a floured surface, knead and shape into a flat ball.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes at 190c or until golden brown
  6. Best served warm.
Notes
  1. Variation: You may wish to add sprinkling of chopped chives and 100g grated cheese prior to adding the milk.
Laughing Kids Learn https://laughingkidslearn.com/
Aussie Damper recipe

 Have you ever made or tasted Aussie damper bread? 

Here are some more ideas that might interest you – 

Be sure to check out these other great ideas –  

   Poppy Crafts for Kids to make for Remembrance Day       SONY DSC    Craft in making bravery medals. Great activity for ANZAC Day and teaching children about bravery.

  • Sydney Opera House – Danya Banya
  • Busy Bag Pavlova – Three Foot Cooks

Follow Kate @ LaughingKidsLearn’s board Laughing Kids Learn on Pinterest.



 

Ebooks available featuring Laughing Kids Learn

Zero to Two: Book of Play    Three to Five Playful Preschool ad

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Celebrate, Cook Tagged With: Australia Day, cooking

Comments

  1. kate - The Craft Train says

    January 19, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    This looks so yummy! Thanks for reminding me to try making damper one day with my kids 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sheila Klimas says

    February 6, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    This bread looks like a lot of fun to make with my grand kids. Any chance you have the conversion measurements for non metric Americans.
    thanks so much.
    I love the idea that the kids can use their fingers.
    I just found your site and I plan to make up the cornstarch and hair conditioner dough for our upcoming visit to our grand daughters (ages 3 and 8).

    Reply
    • Gretchen says

      January 28, 2016 at 3:43 am

      This looks almost exactly like the soda bread I make only we use buttermilk, baking soda and regular flour instead of the butter and self-rising flour. Conversions for us non-metric people would be good! It is a messy bread to make but oh so tasty. I especially like it toasted. We always had it with spaghetti and meatballs when we were kids.

      Reply
      • Kate says

        January 28, 2016 at 10:23 am

        You’re totally right Gretchen. Damper is much like a soda bread. I’ll try adding conversions in future recipes. Thank you so kindly for your comment. 🙂

        Reply
  3. Kristi says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:51 pm

    Thank you for introducing our family to Damper! My kiddos helped me make our first loaf during our study of Australia, and they loved it! When I made it, I did something special and put the loaf in the middle of the table (mostly for a blog picture). Now anytime I make homemade bread of any kind, my 4-year old asks me if we can “pretty please” put it in the middle of table. Needless to say, it made an impression on him. 😉

    Reply
    • Kate says

      September 14, 2015 at 3:01 pm

      Aw Kristi thank you for sharing with me your experience and I love the thought of warm bread being presented in the middle of the table, just like your 4 year old. 🙂 I very much appreciate your comment. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Elaine says

    January 28, 2016 at 4:01 am

    When I was in Australia, we had damper often. Sometimes it was made with the self raising flour and water and used at “fetes” as hamburger buns, just shaped and baked on the flat bbq grill. Can’t get any simpler than that and doesn’t heat the house.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      January 28, 2016 at 10:20 am

      Oh wow Elaine, that sounds absolutely wonderful. I hadn’t thought of it as hamburger buns. Thanks for the idea lovely! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Eva says

    August 15, 2019 at 3:54 am

    How many tablespoons of salt?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      August 23, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      Just a good pinch of salt Eva. So yummy.

      Reply
  6. Debbie says

    April 7, 2020 at 6:15 am

    I remember, when we were camping “bush” style as children, we used to get all the dry ingredients & butter into a bag (added powdered milk to this). When it was time to eat and the fire was good & hot, adding water, mixing in the bag and wrapping a handful around a thick stick and cooking over the fire. So good with butter & if we brought it jam. If not & the season was right, used the wild berries picked on the way.
    Would work in the fire pit I would think.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 7, 2020 at 9:25 pm

      Sounds absolutely amazing Debbie. Makes me hungry. Hahahaha
      What a wonderful memory to have. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    • Maree says

      August 26, 2023 at 9:18 am

      I absolutely love this idea! Dad used to cook damper working in the bush, with water. He cooked it at home for us. I love the sticks idea for my grand kids. ❤️

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Australia Day Fun and Crafts for Kids says:
    January 21, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    […] 3. How to make Damper Bread  from Laughing Kids Learn […]

    Reply
  2. Around the World in 7 Plates: A Continent Study for Any Age - Stop Me If You've Heard This... says:
    August 3, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    […] I invited my little flour-covered disasters to help me make this traditional Australian bread, damper (recipe from Laughing Kids Learn). They got into the measuring (maybe too much because suddenly […]

    Reply
  3. Damper Bread – Edible Crafts says:
    January 27, 2016 at 4:02 am

    […] here on Laughing Kids Learn for the recipe and […]

    Reply
  4. Sydney Harbour Bridge Craft – Danya Banya says:
    January 23, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    […] Laughing Kids Learn shows you how to make delicious (and egg-free) Aussie damper, […]

    Reply
  5. Australia Activities for Kids: Crafts, Books, and Fun - Creative Family Fun says:
    May 31, 2017 at 3:29 am

    […] Make Australian Damper Bread with Laughing Kids Learn. […]

    Reply

Please Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
Read my about page to find out more.

facebookpinteresttwitterinstagramgoogle plusyoutube

Search

Find More Great Ideas Here:

sesnory play
art and craft
nummeracy
literacy
Science
recipes
videos

Join the Tribe!

Subscribe



Find Activities by Age

  • 0 – 12 months
  • 1 – 3 years
  • 3 – 5 years
  • 5 – 10 years

Find Activities by Celebration

  • Christmas
  • SHOP PRODUCTS

Privacy Policy

  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Find posts by month

Copyright © 2025 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in