Classic Aussie Damper Bread with Butter and Golden Syrup

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-03 · Updated 2026-06-03

A traditional Australian soda bread cooked on the stovetop, perfect with butter and sweet golden syrup. This Australian-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs self-raising flour, salt, cold water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 cups (375 g) self-raising flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) cold water
• 50 g softened butter
• to serve golden syrup
• for dusting extra flour

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, sift together 3 cups self-raising flour and 1 tsp salt. Rub in 50 g softened butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Step 2: Make a well in the center and gradually add 1 1/4 cups cold water, mixing with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. If dough is too sticky, lightly dust with extra flour.
3. Step 3: Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead gently for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Shape into a round loaf about 7 inches in diameter.
4. Step 4: Heat a heavy-based frying pan over low-medium heat. Place the dough in the pan, cover with a lid or foil, and cook for 25 minutes. Flip the damper carefully and cook for another 20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
5. Step 5: Serve warm with butter and golden syrup drizzled on top.