Here’s a soft, slightly tangy, South African–style buttermilk bread recipe — the kind that’s perfect with farm butter, jam, or served alongside soup 🇿🇦🍞
It has a tender crumb, golden crust, and keeps beautifully for a few days.
South African Buttermilk Bread
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 cups cake flour (or bread flour for slightly chewier texture)
- 2¼ teaspoons (1 sachet / 10g) instant dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1½ cups buttermilk (lukewarm, not hot)
- 1 egg (optional, for richer loaf)
👩🍳 Method
1️⃣ Activate (if using active dry yeast)
If using instant yeast, you can skip this step.
- Mix yeast, sugar and ¼ cup lukewarm buttermilk.
- Leave 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2️⃣ Mix Dough
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
- Add butter and rub lightly into flour.
- Add yeast mixture (or instant yeast directly to flour).
- Add remaining buttermilk (and egg if using).
- Mix until a soft dough forms.
Dough should be slightly sticky but manageable.
3️⃣ Knead
- Knead 8–10 minutes by hand
(or 5–6 minutes in a mixer) - Dough should become smooth and elastic.
If too sticky → add 1 tablespoon flour at a time.
If too dry → add 1 tablespoon buttermilk at a time.
4️⃣ First Rise
- Place dough in lightly oiled bowl.
- Cover with cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let rise in warm spot 1–1½ hours until doubled in size.
5️⃣ Shape
- Punch down gently.
- Shape into loaf.
- Place in greased loaf tin.
6️⃣ Second Rise
- Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes.
- Dough should rise just above tin edge.
7️⃣ Bake
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Bake 30–35 minutes.
- Tap bottom — it should sound hollow.
- Internal temp (if checking) ±90–95°C.
For softer crust:
- Brush with melted butter immediately after baking.
🧈 Extra South African Touch
Brush with:
- Melted butter + pinch of salt
OR - Butter + drizzle of honey
Let cool before slicing (at least 30 minutes).
🧊 Storage
- Keeps 3 days in airtight container.
- Freezes very well (slice before freezing).
💡 Variations
✔ Add ½ cup grated cheddar (great with soup).
✔ Add 1 tablespoon mixed herbs.
✔ Use half brown flour for a farm-style loaf.
✔ Make into dinner rolls (bake 20–25 mins).
