Yep, you CAN make an amazing bread without yeast that’s just like proper bread! 5 common ingredients: flour, baking powder, oil, milk and sugar. It’s a no yeast bread based on Damper, a traditional Australian bread historically made by swagmen and drovers over campfire – except we’re using an oven!
Use for sandwiches, toast, grilled cheese, French Toast – anything you normally make with sandwich bread.
Bread without yeast
This no yeast bread is inspired by the Australian Damper, a traditional bushman’s bread made with flour and water that was cooked over campfires.
Except I’ve brought it into the 21st century to make the crumb fluffier, more tender and tastier, and made it look like sandwich bread rather than a freeform loaf. (Oh, and we cook this in an oven instead of over fire!)
This is THE emergency bread that you make when you don’t have yeast, or you don’t have time to make yeast bread. It has a proper crumb like real bread, rather than being crumbly like muffins which many no-yeast breads are. It’s mixed in a bowl with a wooden spoon – no kneading, no rising. You’ll have this in the oven in mere minutes!
Is it as good as a yeast bread? Yeast gives bread a chew and stretch in a way that bread made without yeast will never have. But this is as darn close as you will get to a yeast bread recipe without using yeast. And it’s off the charts delicious for something that takes 3 minutes to get into the oven!!
What goes into sandwich bread without yeast
Bread lovers might recognise this as a simpler version of Irish Soda Bread. It’s easier because the dough is just mixed up in a bowl (ie no kneading at all) and it doesn’t require buttermilk or baking soda which aren’t pantry staples for everyone.
Here’s all you need to make bread without yeast (let’s pretend I didn’t forget to put the milk in the photo!!!):
Flour – plain/all purpose flour, or switch up to half with wholemeal/wholewheat. Can use self raising in place of flour and baking powder;
Baking powder – this is what gives this bread rise. Skip if using self raising flour, or substitute with baking soda;
Milk – any type, dairy or non dairy, fresh or powder (reconstituted), full or no fat. Can be substituted with water plus 1 tbsp oil or butter;
Oil – Just 1/4 cup gives this bread some much needed moisture. Without it, it’s very dry. Any neutral flavoured oil is fine – canola, vegetable, peanut, grapeseed, rapeseed, sun flower, even a light olive oil;
Sugar – just 1 tablespoon makes quite a difference here to bring out flavour; and
Salt – for seasoning,
No egg. That’s the secret to the real bread-like crumb!
The flour and baking powder in this recipe can be substituted with self raising flour.
How to make bread without yeast
This is just like making your favourite Chocolate Chip Muffins! Mix the dry ingredients, then add the oil and milk. Mix, pour, bake!
Why use a loaf pan? Because the mixture is a very thick batter rather than a kneadable dough (like Friday’s pizza dough or focaccia). So you can’t freeform it like Irish Soda Bread. If you don’t have a loaf pan, make it in a muffin tin – well greased, 20 minutes at 180°C/350°F.
It takes 50 minutes in the oven, so I like to do half the time uncovered to get a lovely golden brown crust, then I cover it the rest of the time (otherwise the crust gets a bit thick and dark).
LOOK at that crust!↓↓↓ It’s tempting to just lift the whole thing off and run away with it! (Swipe the butter while you’re at it)
TIP: Let it cool completely before slicing, otherwise it will be susceptible to crumbling on the edges. On Day 2, it slices 100% perfectly!
Slice it up like normal bread then use it for anything and everything you ordinarily use sandwich bread for. A simple ham sandwich. Or an epic Pastrami or Reuben sandwich. Grilled cheese – or cheesy GARLIC bread. Toast it and slather with jam, Vegemite, peanut butter or whatever you heart desires.
Dunk into soups and stews. You can even make French Toast or Bread and Butter pudding!
Storage
As with all homemade breads, this no yeast bread is at its best on the day it’s made. But even the day after, it’s still very, very good thanks to the touch of oil which keeps the crumb moist. Then on Day 3, a light toasting is all that’s needed to resurrect it.
It also freezes 100% perfectly – which is what I’ve done with the 8+ loaves I’ve made in the past few weeks, trying to nail the recipe. I’m going to be eating this for weeks and weeks – no complaints here!! ~ Nagi x
Watch How To Make It
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Sandwich Bread WITHOUT Yeast! (Dead easy)
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour , plain/all purpose (Note 1)
- 8 tsp baking powder (Note 2)
- 3 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking / kosher salt (REDUCE to 1 tsp if using table salt, Note 3)
- 2 1/4 cups milk , warmed (any – Note 4)
- 1/4 cup oil , any plain (vegetable, canola, sunflower, rapeseed, grapeseed, light olive oil)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220°C/430°F (200°C fan).
- Grease a 22 x 13 cm / 9 x 5" loaf pan, then line with parchment/baking paper with overhang (to lift out).
- Mix dry: Place flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl, mix to combine.
- Add wet: Make a well in the centre, pour in oil and milk. Mix until flour is fully incorporated – batter will be thick but stirrable.
- Fill pan: Scrape into loaf pan, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl clean and smooth the surface.
- Bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven, cover with foil.
- Return to oven. Turn oven DOWN to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan), bake 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then use excess paper to lift out and transfer to cooling rack.
- Cool completely before slicing – 45 minutes+. It IS more delicate than yeast breads (can't change science!) but slices far better than the usual "cake like" no yeast breads. Slices perfectly on Day 2 and beyond.
- Use for sandwiches, toast, grilled cheese, french toast, bread and butter pudding – anything you use "real" sandwich bread for!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Video Bomber. I cut him from the video edits 😂
Hi Nagi. I’ve been making a variation on soda bread, but was wanting something a little less dense. I’m curious if this bread would work. Also, can I just shape it into a loaf & put it on a lined baking tray? Or does it need to be in a loaf pan? Thanks, much appreciated 🙂
Hi Sherry – you need a loaf pan for this one sorry! N x
Hi Negi!
I just wonder if I can cut this recipe to half?
incase if I don’t do good job I won’t feel so bad. lol
thanks for all your recipes! love them all and Dozer! xo
You’ll nail it SARAH! Do you have a super small loaf pan for this to cook in? N x
thanks for the respond! no I don’t have that small loft pan. I want to just try small as an experience first. and if it comes out good I will follow full recipe as it is!
I’m not a baker tho. but your recipe looks easy to follow! wish me luck!
stay safe and healthy.
xo
What are the calories & carbs for 1/2 inch slice of this bread?
Hi Cindi – all nutrition is at the bottom of the recipe notes 🙂
I am just getting ready to make this and I am wondering how to store the cooled bread …zip lock bags a reused plastic bread bag ?? Thanks !!
Hi Char, I keep mine in an airtight container but a zip log bag is great too! N x
Hi Nagi. I can’t see in the recipe how much salt if any is used. Thanks
Oops sorry!! Added!
Thanks so much Nagi, Have been looking for a no yeast recipe! Love all your recipes!
I hope you give it a go and love it Susan!! N x
I will be trying this with some wheat flour added. How did you learn to cut so straight. I can’t keep my slices even and straight. I am glad that the “missed” recipe was due to technical stuff and not that you or Dozer were sick. Love your site. Thank you.
Hi Lisa, if you’re having trouble cutting straight, I know you can buy bread cutting guides! N x
That’s a good idea. I love making homemade bread and now that I’m retired, I have the time. Thank you.
I agree who cares !!! Love you and Dozer .your the best cooking site ever ! Please stay safe !
Thanks so much Char! N x
Nagi, I love your recipes for bread! I have never been a baker and when I tried your. O knead recipe the first time, I was skeptical. No more ! I love all of your recipes and your instructions are perfect!! Thanks. Shelley.
That’s wonderful Shelley, thanks so much ❤️
Brilliant website, Nagi, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, but should there be salt in the list of ingredients & instructions? PS: Dozer’s U.K. cousin, a German Shepherd, sends his best wishes! x
Yep – now listed Mercia! N x
16 slices nagi? You haven’t seen my knives.1 chunk or 2.brill recipe
😂 I love this!
thanks so much for sending these I’m a seasoned cook but I’m learning so much from your recipes so thanks again, I’m wheat intolerant do you think this recipe will work with gluten free flour? you and dozer take care
Hi Marguerite, sorry no the recipe wont work as written with GF flour – N x
Hi Nagi, I don’t usually send comments – but had to this time to say how much I enjoy RTE, your recipes and of course your best mate, Dozer. Don’t be concerned by the email snafu it meant an extra pic of Dozer to enjoy. Keep up the good work…jr
Thanks so much John!! N x
Can I use bread flour for this recipe? And can I use the same recipe for damper?
Hey! I love your recipes, really good job girl! Can you please Tell me how much flour and milk you use in grams? Is okay to use 500 Gramm flour and 300ml milk for this recipe or not?
I was going to ask about bread flour too, but you beat me to it. Great minds!
Sure can Zoe 🙂 N x
Can I use bread flour for this recipe?
Hi, love yr furbaby Dozer, he is so cute. I am wondering something, I love bread and can only eat gluten free bread, do you have any recipes for gluten free bread to be made at home. I have to buy bread and the cost is $8.50 for 13 slices……yikes I say. Thanks…Sherry
I don’t just yet sorry!!! N x
Very nice my lucky day…finally a bread recipe without yeast…looks great too
Beautiful lady ! Who cares !! There is not one of us who has not had to say ‘oops’ !! Hmm, was trying to find a way to say I’m the idiot who does not make mac n’ cheese . . . well, deleted ! Love to all of you and be careful now we are opening some doors and windows again . . .
Thanks so much Eha, I hope you’re doing well!! ❤️