Viking Bread Recipe

Is there anything more satisfying than a hearty bread slathered with butter and drizzled with honey? I think not.

This viking bread is a hearty and heavy bread perfect for serving with soups and stews. Its also really good warm from the oven and drizzled with honey!

What you need to make this recipe

This is just a brief overview of ingredients. For the full recipe, please scroll down to the recipe card below.

• Flour – for this recipe you will need a mix of whole wheat and all purpose flour. Vikings would have used a course ground whole mix of barley and wheat flour, but we are going to use this combination as its more easily available to find in current grocery stores.
• Oats – Oats add depth of flavor and chewy heartiness to the recipe. Use old fashioned, not quick cooking or instant oats.
• Baking Soda – So no, vikings did not use baking soda. They did not use yeast in their breads, but to leaven their breads (or make them rise) they used something called “antler salt” or “hartshorn” – basically they extracted ammonium carbonate from deer antlers and used that as their leavening agent. You can actually buy this online today, but I decided to use baking soda instead because its quite expensive and not readily available in the US.
• Salt – Salt is always needed in baking breads as it helps round out the flavors of the bread (and makes it not so bland) but it also helps strengthen the gluten, yielding in a nicer loaf of bread.
• Water – Just room temperature tap water is fine, here!

How to make viking bread

This recipe is simple to make! For the full set of directions, please scroll down to the recipe card below. This is just a general overview on how to make it to help you plan.

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
2. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the water until thoroughly mixed.
3. Knead the dough until everything is nicely worked in.
4. Divide the dough into 6 equal balls.
5. Place the balls on a baking stone or large rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Top the rolls with extra oats.
6. Place the baking stone in the oven and turn the oven on to 375 (do not preheat the oven, we are doing cold bake here!)
7. Bake for 20-30 minutes until the loaves are baked and lightly golden on top.
8. Let them cool for a few minutes and then dig in! These are best served warm.

Kids in the Kitchen: How Your Kids Can Help You Cook

Getting your kids in the kitchen is an amazing way to help them be more interested in trying new foods and confident in their own abilities in (and out of!) the kitchen. This grilled lamb recipe is great because it helps kids learn to use measuring spoons and they get practice whisking liquid ingredients and washing produce. This recipe is perfect for beginner cooks because it is so easy! And it is a great recipe for kids to experiment and become more comfortable with new flavors – which means they are more likely to eat it!

• Kids aged 1-3 can help you measure the ingredients and start mixing them together.
• Kids aged 4-6 can do everything above, plus help you knead the dough together, shape them into equal balls, and top them with oats.
• Kids aged 7-10+ can help you do everything above, plus help you slice the apple and thread the kebabs together.

*Please note that these recommendations are generalized, and to please use your personal discretion with your child’s skill level. And always, always supervise! Read more about how to have your children help you in the kitchen.