No Yeast Bread

Ingredients

• 4 cups (540g) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (18g) granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup (55g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (or melted)
• 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) buttermilk, fridge cold, plus a little more as needed and for brushing
• Optional: 1 tablespoons oatmeal, for decoration

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the butter into the flour mixture and mix it with your fingers (or a fork/spatula) until butter is evenly distributed. Add buttermilk and mix until a shaggy, slightly moist dough forms. If dough is too crumbly, add more buttermilk as needed (you’ll need no more than 1-2 tablespoons). Don’t overmix.

3. 3

   Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead gently just for a few seconds until a ball forms and it’s cohesive but still lumpy - it shouldn’t look pretty or smooth. You don’t want to overwork the dough, as this can make it tough.

4. 4

   Form dough into a 7-inch round loaf and transfer to prepared pan. Score a deep “X” into the top of the dough. Sprinkle with oatmeal if you like. Bake for 40-45 minutes (If you have a thermometer, the internal temperature should be around 180°F). Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature. Serve warm or at room temperature.

5. 5

   Store bread in an airtight container for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the loaf or cut into slices and then freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator (overnight) or at room temperature.