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Australian Campfire Bread

Damper

Damper is an Australian bread that is cooked over hot coals in a fire pit or stove. Follow the instructions for Keri Herman's version of desert Damper.
Cuisine Firepit/BBQ
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cup Flour
  • 5 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 1 cup Dried Cranberries
  • 2 big sheets Aluminum Foil

Instructions

  1. Build a roaring fire with a base of hot coals
  2. Melt coconut oil over fire in a pot
  3. Stack sheets of aluminum foil and lightly dust with flour
  4. Mix remaining flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a bowl. When coconut oil is melted, add coconut oil and milk to mix. (If you don't have fresh milk you can use rehydrated powdered milk)
  5. Add dried cranberries to the mixture and knead ingredients together with hands. When dough becomes springy remove from bowl and set the dough on top of aluminum foil. Sprinkle flour over dough and lightly cover with aluminum foil.
  6. Make sure dough is sealed inside foil, and burry Damper in your fire's hot coals. Cover with additional coals and build fire around Damper.
  7. Let cook for 20 minutes. Remove Damper from fire and check on progress. Carefully lift foil, without ripping, and check on the bread. If It has a crispy crust then it is getting close to being finished. If the crust is still springy and doughy, cover with foil and return to fire. When the Damper is looking close to being done, move it to the top of the fire and let cook for 5-10 more minutes.
  8. When the Damper has a crispy shell around the whole bread, break off a small piece, or cut in using a knife, and make sure the middle of the loaf is cooked.
  9. When everything is looking good, remove Damper from fire and let cool until the bread reaches a comfortable touch temperature. Break off a big piece of Damper and cover with butter, honey, jam, Nutella, Vegemite, Marmalade...or whatever topping you prefer.
  10. When you finish eating, be sure to properly dispose of all trash and clean your cooking and eating area.

Recipe Notes

This recipe can also be prepared in a conventional oven at home, but its so much more fun to make bread over a campfire! Try different versions of Damper with chocolate bits, raisins, nuts, coconut flakes...get creative and personalize your Damper recipe!