Depression Era Peanut Butter Bread Recipe (2024)

Published: Mar 14, 2022 · Modified: Jan 12, 2024 by Sarita Harbour · This post may contain affiliate links and Amazon links

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Do you love peanut butter? How about bread? Believe it or not, peanut butter bread is an increasingly popular frugal breakfast or snack. This peanut butter bread recipe is from the 1930s and is easy to make using only basic ingredients.

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Why a peanut butter bread recipe?

This peanut butter bread recipe is a simple, frugal way to make a tasty protein-filled quick bread loaf. It uses basic ingredients, including peanut butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and baking soda. This depression-era peanut butter bread recipe is It's a simple, one-bowl recipe and very easy to follow.

When was peanut butter bread first developed?

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During the 1930s, times were tough and money was tight. Families looked for frugal recipes during the Depression and ate chili, macaroni and cheese, and soup and biscuits. It was around that time that this unique recipe was developed.

You know, peanut butter bread has been around for quite some time. The original recipe was published almost 90 years ago in the Five Roses Flour Cookbook.

However, peanut butter bread has become increasingly popular in recent years as people have become more interested in home baking to save money. We love vintage recipes and homestyle quickbreads, like this classic old fashioned gingerbread. So, I thought I'd try it - we're always trying to find ways to save money.

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And by the way, if you're looking for another frugal breakfast recipe, try making overnight oats, like this fun cookie dough overnight oats recipe.

And when Dan's buying in bulk to stock our pantry, he'll buy peanut butter on sale.

I tend to bake a lot of banana bread, pumpkin muffins, and now even blueberry bread. So this is a nice addition to my menu.

I like this recipe because it's simple and kid-friendly. Adding chocolate chips or even a banana for variety is also easy.

While I usually serve quick breads for breakfasts or snacks and yeast breads or sourdough breads for lunch or dinner, I recently discovered a couple of delicious savory quick breads.

Is peanut butter bread healthy?

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Peanut butter bread is high in protein and fiber and contains healthy fats. However, peanut butter bread should be consumed in moderation, like any food. It's a great way to get your peanut butter and it tastes delicious.

How to Make My Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

It's pretty simple and a great "baking with kids" recipe. (Note: I did not use eggs in this recipe; however, add one if you prefer a cakier/spongier loaf.)

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Ingredients

To make this recipe, you'll need the following ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 ⅓ cup 2 percent or whole milk
(optional: 1 egg)

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Directions

Here are my step-by-step instructions for making peanut butter bread at home.

Preheat your oven to 330 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prep your loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

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Stir with a fork to mix well until the batter is crumbly.

Add peanut butter and milk.

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Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan and bake for one hour.

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Use a knife or toothpick to test the bread with a toothpick for doneness.
If the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is ready. If it has batter or crumbs clinging, bake it for another 15 minutes.
Let the peanut butter loaf cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.

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Pop the bread out of the pan and let it cool on the rack for another 15 minutes.

Slice and enjoy!

Depression Era Easy Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Make this easy old-fashioned peanut butter bread recipe for a frugal breakfast or delicious snack.

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 ⅓ cup 2 percent or whole milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 330 degrees.
Line a bread pan with parchment paper.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
Stir to combine.
Add peanut butter and milk.Mix well.
Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan and bake.
After one hour poke the center of the bread with a toothpick to test for doneness.
If the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is ready.
If it has batter or crumbs clinging to it, allow the bread to bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
Pop the bread out of the pan and allow to cool for an additional 15 minutes before slicing.