My great grandmother relied on this simple 3 ingredient bake when the pantry was bare.

This 3-ingredient peanut butter bread is the kind of make-do baking my great-grandmother leaned on when the pantry was nearly bare and the next trip to town was a week away. It comes straight out of those Depression-era habits: stretch what you have, waste nothing, and still put something warm and filling on the table.

There’s no sugar, no eggs, no fancy leaveners—just flour, peanut butter, and milk working together to make a dense, sturdy loaf that slices thick, shines a little with peanut oil, and feels like a small comfort at the end of a lean day. It’s the sort of plain, honest food that kept families going, and it still tastes mighty good with a cold glass of milk.

Serve this peanut butter bread sliced thick, just as my great-grandmother did, with a cold glass of milk or buttermilk alongside. It’s lovely still warm from the oven, when the crumb is soft and the peanut oils glisten a bit on the surface. You can spread a slice with a dab of butter, a drizzle of honey, or a spoonful of jam if you have it, but it’s perfectly satisfying plain.
It packs well in a lunch pail, and the dense texture holds up nicely in a plastic container on the counter for a day or two, ready for quick snacks or a simple breakfast.

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Bread

Servings: 8

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 3/4 cups whole milk (or any milk you have on hand)

Directions