Going camping with kids this school holidays?
Katy Holder, author of the new Hungry Campers Cookbook, has an easy damper recipe that makes a fun activity for kids (and for those young at heart).
Damper is a tried and true campfire bread that pretty much everyone adores. I like to add butter and sugar, which a traditional damper would not usually include. Let the kids make the dough and divide it into portions, then wrap each portion around the top part of a long stick. The kids can then cook it over the fire. Once cooked, fill the hole where the stick was with honey, jam or nutella. Be warned – once you have made this the first time, your kids will invariably start asking you to make more!
MAKES 6 small breads
300 g (2 cups) self-raising flour, plus extra as needed
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter
250–310 ml (1–1¼ cups) milk
honey, jam or nutella, to serve
1 Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Add the butter and use your fingertips to rub it into the flour until it is all incorporated – it should resemble breadcrumbs.
2 Gradually add the milk and knead to combine, adding just enough to make a dough that isn’t too sticky and that can be easily kneaded. If it’s too sticky or wet, it will drop off the sticks when it is being cooked. Add a little extra flour if this is the case. Knead in the bowl for about 10 minutes, or until soft and elastic, giving everyone a turn so they all get to join in the fun.
3 Divide the damper into six portions, form into balls and shape into ovals around the top of six long, thick sticks. With parental supervision, let the kids cook the bread over the fire for about 10–15 minutes, turning the bread regularly, until golden brown on all sides. When the bread is cooked, it will sound hollow when tapped. Wait for 5 minutes (if the kids are patient enough), then remove from the stick and fill with your favourite filling.
KATY’S TIP: An English scout recently showed me how to make twisted damper – roll your ball of dough into a long sausage shape and wrap this around the top of your stick.
Discover more camping recipes in the Hungry Campers Cookbook, on sale now.
