When you need emergency no yeast bread in a hurry, or the shop has run out? This no yeast, no rise loaf that anyone can bake, that uses only 4 everyday ingredients is the answer. Egg free recipe.
Emergency No Yeast Bread
Emergency no yeast bread is variation on a soda bread: it uses plain milk and baking powder rather than buttermilk and bicarbonate of soda.
Because baking powder is a quick-acting leavening agent you don’t need to allow time for it to rise before baking.
The recipe also doesn’t use strong bread flour, as there’s no need to knead the dough to develop the gluten.
The ingredients flour, plain milk, baking powder and salt are all everyday basics found in your fridge and store cupboard, which means you can easily make a fresh loaf whenever you need one.
It is really easy and straightforward to make a loaf of emergency no yeast bread.
Step 1: Heat the oven to 190°C (Fan) / 375°F /Gas Mark 6 .
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt and baking powder) in a large bowl.
Step 3: Add the milk, and bring the dough together. Give it a quick knead to make sure the milk is evenly distributed. It doesn’t need a long kneading.
Step 4: Form into a flat loaf – no more than about 1½”/3cm thick. Important! It mustn’t be too thick otherwise it won’t rise or bake through properly. Then score the top in a deep cross.
This is the dough before it goes in the oven. As you can see, it’s formed into a round pancake, about 1½” (3cm) thick, and deeply scored with a cross across the top.
Step 5: Place on a floured baking sheet, then put in the oven and cook for about 35 minutes. The loaf will still be quite pale once cooked. Don’t expect, or wait for it to be golden brown.
Step 6: Check it is cooked – flip it off the baking sheet and give it a tap, if it is done it will sound hollow.
Because the loaf doesn’t have much time to rise, it will never achieve a particularly light texture.
This no yeast bread recipe will always result in a hearty, rustic loaf that’s best enjoyed fresh from the oven and dripping with lashings of butter.
Can I Make a Vegan No Yeast Loaf?
Absolutely yes! Use your favourite soy or nut milk, and add one tablespoon of lemon juice just before mixing the dough.
Can I Make Emergency No Yeast Bread with Gluten Free Flour?
This recipe doesn’t work with gluten free wheat flour, so I’m afraid not. Sorry! We are working on it though, so watch this space!
I’m Out of Milk! What Can I Do?
You can use a 50:50 mixture of yogurt and water instead. Mix the two well together before adding to the flour. Or you can make up some powdered milk, as per the packet instructions, and use that.
Can I Freeze Emergency No Yeast Bread?
Yes – this no yeast bread freezes well – I like to slice it, wrap in a plastic bag, freeze, then toast from frozen.
Can I make Emergency No Yeast Bread using cup measures?
Yes! Don’t mix cups and metric measurements, but 3 1/3 cups of flour, 10 fl oz of milk and the same amounts of baking powder and salt – 2 tsp and 1 tsp respectively will work.
I want something a bit more interesting than bread. What else can I make?
How about our emergency pizza? No yeast, no knead, tasty, easy and delicious!
When you need bread in a hurry, or the shop has run out? This no yeast, no rise loaf that anyone can bake, that uses only 4 everyday ingredients is the answer. Egg Free.
- 500 g plain flour (regular cake or all purpose flour not bread or wholewheat / wholegrain
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 310 ml milk
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Heat the oven to 190°C (Fan) / 375°F / GM 6. Place a baking stone or heavy baking sheet in the oven to heat.
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Mix the dry ingredients. Stir in the milk, and bring the dough together.
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Knead briefly until the dough has a uniform consistency.
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Shape the dough into a round disc about an inch to an inch and a half (about 3cm) thick and score the top. This is important! Don't make a round ball of dough as it won't cook in the middle.
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Bake on the hot stone or baking sheet at for about 35 minutes until pale brown and sounding hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Important! We cannot stress enough that the dough needs to be a flat pancake - not more than 1.5" (3cm) deep when it goes into the oven, or it will not cook properly in the middle.
- This recipe is 5 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion
- Delicious served freshly baked for breakfast with our homemade Seville Orange Marmalade
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Or you can try the no yeast bread with my Fat Free Pea and Lettuce Soup or my Leftover Salad Soup.
This recipe was originally posted in March 2011, and updated in November 2017. Here’s the rather rustic loaf from our original post.
Sally - My Custard Pie
I think everyone needs a recipe like this up their sleeves. In fact I might make some emergency bread for when my children come home from school today (as there seems to be nothing else for them to eat in the house!) Enjoyed this slightly different challenge – especially reading everyone elses.
Helen
Hope they enjoy it Sally.
Err on the side of over baking, mine was slightly underdone.
Jane Mitchell
You’ve got to use your loaf!
Claire
Might have to give your emergency bread a go. I usually make a soda bread when I need bread fast.
Helen
I must get to grips with soda bread too.
Love bread, and the feel of working with dough.
Harika
Soft and spogy. Looks very fresh and yummy.
Helen
Love homemade bread, so much better than shop bought.
sarah
Helen, thanks for hosting! It took me out of my normal baking, for sure. :) I think emergency bread is such a useful standby. And thanks for introducing Katie Stewart–she’s new to me today.
Helen
Katie is wonderful, good classic, simple and affordable cooking. I have three of her books. My mother sent me off to University with one of them!
I think that the original TImes Cookery book is due a reissue with photos.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
Sounds great, probably even I could manage this?
Helen
You undersell yourself Sarah!
Sarah
Love Shipton Mill, and my other favourite is Bacheldre. I must check out that challenge when I am back on the blog wagon.
Oh, and it’s bollocks that you need strong flour to make bread. Rye flour is extremely low in gluten, yet you can make great sourdough with it. French baguettes are made with soft flour.
It all comes down to what kind of bread you want to make, and there are a lot of other factors involved than just gluten or protein content (not all the protein in flour is gluten).
Helen
That is interesting Sarah,
I have gone back to basics with bread and am doing sordough from scratch series now. Just need to experiment, and read Dan Lepard!
Krithi
Quick bread… wow.. love the (c)rust…
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Herbs & Flowers in my Platter – Coriander/Cilantro
Helen
So tasty, and much better than shop bought.
Corina
I need to remember this for when my bread machine fails me. I still haven’t managed to complete this challenge but I’m looking out for local flour and hope to get around to it sometime, even if I’m very late.
Helen
Thanks for persisting Corina, I still need to post last months challenge!
I think my dough was slightly too dry, it is a great breakfast loaf, mix, bung in oven, shower and get up whilst it is cooking.
JohannaGGG
what a wonderful looking loaf – I need a good emergency bread like this because some days there is no loaf and no energy for all that yeast palaver!
Helen
It’s a really easy alternative to using yeast, and ideal as a quick loaf.
Lou
Hi Helen – thanks for a great challenge!
Like your emergency bread and I love the picture of the flour explosion – I would never have thought of that but after you had said it, it made me laugh.
Pudding Pie Lane
This bread doesn’t look like you made it in 35 minutes! It looks like it took HOURS. Well done, and fantastically shaped too, yum yum :)
Helen
Thank you. I really enjoy making homemade bread.
Dawn Jones
Could you do this with gluten free flour? My daughter has a gluten intolerance. But loves bread. And shop bought gluten free is so expensive!
Helen
Hi Dawn, we are working on a GF version, but it is not as simple as just using GF flour sadly.
Joanna
What fun! Your loaf looks lovely. A really useful recipe for quick bread.
Helen
I really enjoy making, and of course eating homemade bread.
Camilla @FabFood4All
This is fab Helen, you’ve gone one better than my no-knead loaf, a no rise loaf – must give this a go:-)
Helen
Reducing the time considerably, ideal for time saving.
Kara
I love baking my own bread, nothing beats waking up to the smell of fresh bread in the morning
Helen
The smell of homemade bread is something rather magical.
Julia
I’ve been in a bread making mood for the past 2 weeks :). Gotta try this one – love that there is no yeast needed and it still comes out looking perfect!
Helen
The time saved is such a bonus.
Mel
I’m always running out of bread so this is very handy – I will be sure to make some next time I run out! Those soups look delicious, I might have to pick some up to try.
Helen
The soups are delicious, ideal for these colder days.
Amanda
The texture of this bread looks fantastic, and I’m also loving the flavors of these soups from Cully & Sully! That Pea and Minty Soup would be so perfect for lunch on a cold day like today!
Helen
I do love a nice hearty soup on a cold day.
Tina | The Worktop
I haven’t tried these soups before, but I’ll keep an eye out for them next time I’m at the shop. They look lovely, especially with the bread!
Helen
Very tasty soups and lovely consistancy.
rika
I’ve never tried to make my own bread at home! This recipe looks so easy to make.
Helen
So easy to make and well worth the effort.
Tara
Oh wow! This bread looks wonderful and the photos are just beautiful. Sounds perfect with a bowl of soup on this chilly morning.
Helen
I love homemade bread with a nice warm bowl of soup.
HodgePodgeDays
It’s so handy to have a quick bread recipe to hand, especially if you’ve got a pot of soup on the hob screaming out for some crusty bread.
Helen
Hot soup and crusty bread are the perfect partners.
Hazel Rea
You can also make emergency glutenfree bread. Before my son went to University I adapted a recipe so he could make himself bread without scales (he used a measuring jug) and it was cooked in a frying pan to avoid using an oven contaminated with gluten containing flour from pizzas cooked by other students.
Helen
Lovely that you gave your son the means to make his own bread.
Gareth Torrance
Never thought that you could make bread without yeast….
Helen
So handy, because it takes such less time.
Lyndsay-Rose
Ohhhh I might have to give this a go! Especially if it takes less than an hour
Helen
it is a staple here!
Amy Deverson
Ooh fab post – I love making bread in a bread maker but this sounds like a great alternative for those emergencies.
Helen
It makes a really good loaf considering how fast it is.
Nayna Kanabar
I really like the cully and sully range of soups , especially as there are many vegetarian options and your bread would go perfectly with it .No soup is compete with out a crusty slice of bread to dunk into the soup.
Helen
a hunk of crusty bread really makes a bowl of soup
Agata
The bread looks fab but given the choice would swap it for a pea and minty soup… oh it sounds delicious. I just love all things mint
Helen
Pea and mint is such a great flavour combination.
Lynne Harper
I love ready made soups that are tasty :) takes the pressure off on busy days. the bread looks incredible as well x
Helen
Tasty ready made soups are ideal for busy days, and so handy to have in.
Chris
LOVE the idea of emergency bread! Completely agree, it’ll totally be better than a trip to the shop. I’m already drooling at the thought of a thick slice with a tonne of butter!!
Helen
Can’t beat homemade bread. And so much more satisfying, because you made it yourself!
Elizabeth
It would be more dense than regular bread, right? I only had wheat flour. Then I couldn’t tell if it was cooked or not. *facepalm* I left in a little longer than the recipe suggested. Seemed spongey, not doughy.
laura
must you use cow’s milk? would nut milks work?
Helen
I am experimenting on this one at the moment.
Chef Robert
I didn’t have any milk I just used water bread still turned out great
Helen
Glad your bread turned out well.
Chef Robert
Oh yeah I used an egg in there as well cooked it a little lower temperature for a little bit longer it almost turned out like focaccia.
Anna
Do you have a recipe for “not quick” bread. The whole point is to let the dough ‘brew’ for few days to break up the grains and make them either for digestion. The whole celiac, gluten sensitive started because of quick yeast and shortcuts in the baking. If you have a recipe for real old fashion bread, please post it.
Helen
Hi Anna,
Thanks for commenting. Absolutely we have so many recipes for bread including sourdough which we regularly bake. As we said this is a quick bread – an alternative to say, soda bread (which I am really not too keen on) for when you have forgotten to bake, and want something bready that is homemade.
https://fussfreeflavours.com/category/recipes/baking/bread-baking/
Faye
HI Helen…. I have been seeking recipes for No Yeast bread. If they happen to include fruit, nuts or even vegetables …. I AM interested!
Fit is not too much trouble, could you reply via email…. and of course post your reply for other interested folk :)
Thanking you in advance Helen
Faye in Halifax Nova Scotia…..
Helen
you could easily add dried fruit, nuts and seeds to this, I’d go easy on fresh grated vegetables as they may be too moist and make the loaf too heavy.
Elena
I just tried this recipe…..it flopped…I used gluten free flour and the rest I followed with accuracy, but the bread is heavy and the middle is almost uncooked….the cooking time was more than 40 min, the outside of the bread is a lovely crunch, but even though I scored it several times and the thickness when the dough went into the oven on a hot cookie sheet, is still NOT like bread and didn’t rise very much at all.
Back to more recipes…..I’d like to make a fabulous gluten and yeast free bread….even if it’s flat and not fluffy……still searching….thanks anyway
El
Helen
Hi Elena, It doesn’t work with GF flour, we’ve tried and the loaf needs to be far flatter when it goes in the oven. Updating the recipe to make that clearer.
Laura
Would it make a difference if you used semi skimmed milk, or is full fat best?
Helen
Any type of milk goes!
Sarah K.
This was WONDERFUL! So easy to make, with ingredients I had on hand. And fast. Crusty, dense, rustic…Thank you SO much! (I couldn’t get the stars to work but this is truly a 5-star recipe!)
Helen
Thank you so much for for the feedback Sarah, I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Sonja
Can this bread be sliced then frozen?
Helen
Absolutely. Slice and freeze in a plastic bag, then toast from frozen.
David
I followed this to the exact ml and gram and the mixture was way too wet, like a dumpling mix. I didn’t have enough flour left to try and save it. Shame it sounded like a easy and tasty emergency recipe.
Helen
Dear David,
I’m sorry it didn’t work – we have tested this many times with all the variations – so I’m not sure what happened – I do hope if you make it again it will be successful.
Hannah
There is something quite special about homemade bread, it always tastes wonderful too. The perfect kind of bread to have in chunks with soup.
Babs
I actually hunted out this recipe from you back when we had snow. No bread in the shop at all, so decided to make this. It is a much heavier bread, but it was so tasty.
Jules
Amazing that you can make bread in such a short time. I’m always put off by the time consuming processes of bread making. This sounds more like my kind of recipe.
Bryan B
I’ve tried this with using yogurt and water mix, and it was quite successful. Made great toast with lashings on butter and jam on.
Rach Gillian
I do like finding good quality ready made soups. I know soup is easy to make, but sometimes you just need something ready to go. These from Cully and Sully look and sound lovely. Pea and mint is such a good soup.
Fiona Pullen
Thank you for this recipe. I’ve just been told to give up yeast and was worrying I’d never be able to have bread again. This is quick and easy to make, I’ve made it several times now.
I tend to half the ingredients to make a loaf for just me (the rest of my family still have regular bread) and it lasts me several days. Any leftovers I crumble into crumbs and use in recipes like burgers.
Celia
All in all, great recipe for the simple ingredients it uses. I converted the milk to fluid ounces but used my food scale for the flour. Unfortunately, my loaf kind of exploded out of the bottom while baking. However, I can only assume this was due to my own error, and the bread still cooked all the way through after about 30 minutes. In the end, the texture ended up being more like an American biscuit (sugarless and fruitless scone, for another reference point) than a traditional loaf, but my family still ate it happily. Would make again! *Also, the website would not let me select the rating, but 5/5 stars from me!
Helen
Hi Celia, I’ve never had that happen to me at all. It is quite scone like, but still bready too. Glad you enjoyed it!
Teresa Dodge
I came across this recipe the other day when I searched for yeast free bread. I get a grumbly tummy with any yeast containing food. I didn’t dare hope that it would turn out ok or even that I could eat it without any problems as I’ve not had bread for 18 months.
It turned so good and was so easy on my stomach that I almost cried! And it was ridiculously easy to make.
The texture is almost like a scone, too. I’ve frozen most of it and hope that it turns out ok for toasting. I’m looking forward to slathering marmalade all over it!
Thank you sooo much for sharing this recipe xx
I’m giving it 5 stars. (My tablet isn’t allowing me to give a rating)
Helen
Hi Teresa,
I am SO happy you like it – I’ve eaten a variation of this all my life – I used to have a slice hot with butter and jam after school – so so good!
Thais Pontes
I have just tried this recipe and it turned out so good! I made a 1/2 recipe just to try it first, and will for sure do the full recipe again soon. I have used almond milk and it tastes delicious. My husband is italian and loves to have some bread on the side with every meal so I’m so happy I found this quick easy fuss free recipe!
Helen
I am so glad you liked it! It is constant favourite here!
Becky Rowe
Just tried this recipe and I think it turned out really well. My 3 year old loves it and so does my oh ?
Phil
My mother used to make ‘Pics’ when we were short of bread and money (which was normally the case).
Using roughly the same recipe as the yeast free dough above (I never saw her measure anything) and rolling it to around 8-10mm, she used to take a 21/2″ circular pastry cutter (the same one used for the famous Welsh Cakes) and cut and cook the dough in a similar fashion, on a bake stone. You see the rise, then flip over the pics until both sides are golden and they sound hollow when tapped with your knuckle.
Very quick, easy and tasty they can be buttered and filled with whatever you choose, ham, jam or cheese, etc., or used to mop up the gravy. Mmm!
Tyrel
I made this this evening. I’m impressed with how good it tasted and the nice crunch on the outside! I added some Italian seasoning to the dough to give it a more Italian style bread taste and it turned out well! Will be making this again!
Helen
I love the twist of Italian seasoning. Such a good idea.
Faith Ukwuomah
Can I make a yeast free baguette out of it?
Helen
Absolutely – shape it how you like!
Maytee Cruz-Aponte
I think I mess it up due to translation error I use too much salt and baking powder … I use tablespoons maybe it was teaspoons ? Not sure … its too salty but texture wise is crusty exactly what I was craving …
Helen
Hi Maytee, I am sorry it wasn’t right – it is definitely tsp which are teaspoons – tbs is a tablespoon. Maybe you will try it again?
Chloe
Made this today. Turned out like a cakey hard mess. Wont be making this again
Helen
Hi Chloe,
I am sorry that it didn’t work for you – we have made this extensively and tested it with lots of variations and have always found it very forgiving. The loaf is a quick bread and will alsways be more scone like in texture than bready – Very happy to help you troubleshoot if you want to give some more details of what happened.
Jenn
I tried this today. But it’s so so dense, it didn’t rise at all. Maybe it’s because I used whole wheat flour? It all I ever have in the house. I’m gonna have to try again!!
Helen
You need to use regular white flour – not bread flour or wholewheat or wholegrain. I’ve updated to make it clearer.
lilly
can you use all purpose flour instead of cake flour?
Helen
Absolutely. I’ve updated the recipe to reflect this.
Neesha
Hi Helen, I don’t normally write reviews but I just had to with this one. I made the bread this morning and it tastes absolutely amazing! Thank you!
I just wanted to enquire as to whether what other flours I could use instead of plain flour? I understand gluten-free wouldn’t work but how about wholemeal? Thanks again
Helen
Hi Neesha, I have a feeling that wholemeal might make it heavy and stop it rising, but do try it – I think that maybe start with 25% wholemeal and a little extra baking powder and see how it turns out. Let me know who it goes.
Kenneth Goad
I made mine a flat pancake and it didn’t rise at all, got crispy on the bottom. Not sure what I’ll do with it.
Helen
Hi Kenneth,
That is really strange as we have made this recipe so many times and it has always risen well], and I’ve had positive feedback from many others.
Did you use regular rather than bread flour and is your baking powder fresh? You can test it by adding to a glass of hot water – if it fizzes it is good, if not you need to toss it and buy fresh.
Let me know if you need more help trouble shooting
Trudi Duncan
Thought I’d try this no yeast bread recipe today. I thought I would split the dough and make 2 small loaves. I even put egg yolk in one just for colour and they both are great and tasty.
Thanks
Caren
I made this today to have some fresh bread in the house, tha k you for the recipe!
After the 35 min. bake time I flipped the cooked loaf and scored the underside. Then I baked with that side up for 10 more minutes. We like a well done loaf, so this make for a drier inside and harder, crisper crust. I had my slice with honey.
Helen
Great idea to flip it and score the underside. I am so glad you enjoyed it
Philomena Martina Timon
Emergency No Yeast Bread: My son came to visit at Christmas and he & his partner are vegan. As I normally make ENY bread three times a week, this time I substituted the milk for soya yoghurt mixed with water and it worked beautifully. Also, I usually add an egg yoke to the milk which makes the bread look more golden.
Thank you for this recipe, it’s great. By the way I live in the mountains of Gran Canaria so the flour I use is a 3 fiber sponge mix flour which works really well, as the ordinary whole meal flour was a bit heavy. I am Irish, and this is the nearest bread to Irish Soda Bread I have ever tasted!
Helen
Hi Philomena, thanks for letting me know – I am so happy you make it 3 times a week – and that is a great tip about the egg yolk.
Kate
Was in a panic Christmas day after my bad dog ate ALL my beautiful homemade bread I made the day before since I was out if bread out if flour and everything was closed. Your recipe was a LIFESAVER! I left out the baking powder and used self-rising flour (all I had on hand) and added a good bunch of dried rosemary and thyme. It was amazing and I had several requests for the recipe. Gotta love that homemade bread!! :)
Helen
Naughty boy – my Herbert would go for homemade bread if he could – what a great ides to add some dried herbs too!
Elise
Use less salt
Helen
Hi Elise, I quite like the salt – but it would also work with less if you were looking to reduce your intake
Arlene
No fuss bread; Made it loved it !! So simple and quick. Went superb with homemade chowder. Yummers. ?
Helen
that sounds a delicious combo Arlene!
Caroline
How many small rolls could be made from this recipe? Using as a kids club activity.
Helen
Hi Caroline, I would think 8 – 10. But I’d have a test run as I think that they might be too crusty for the amount of bread inside them.
Irene McDonald
I am allergic to yeast so I made this bread last night. I was amazed, it tasted like bread and not like an unsweetened cake. I am Vegan and did not realize I should have added some lemon juice with my almond milk. I will try this next time with the lemon juice but the loaf I made yesterday was delicious. I am now going to try the pizza crust next. Thanks again.
Kay
I made this for the first time tonight… turned into a giant scone. Kids loved it with jam, but it didn’t turn out like the picture… Nailed it! I’ll try to make it again, any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong? Also, I’ve never made bread so not sure if I had the right consistency. Do you have a video?
Helen
it is quite scone like in texture, but with a good crust. Working on the video at the moment.
Kate Cassell
I fancied making bread yesterday but I didn’t have any dried yeast. I googled ‘bread without yeast’ and found your recipe. I also only had half the amount of plain flour and took a chance to use spelt flour to make up the 500g. The bread turned out just great! So quick and easy and tasty. The texture and taste reminded me of the Scottish Plain Bread made by Mothers Pride. Definitely one I shall make often. Thank you
PS can you add other ingredients e.g. cheese to the mixture? Might give it a try.
Helen
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I think it would be lovely with cheese in – other readers have successfully added herbs and spices. Let me know if you try it.
Hannah
Can I add herbs, garlic, or cheese to this bread?
Helen
You certainly can and it would be delicious.
Tracy
Not sure why it says to not use whole wheat….I did and it came out great! I did add 2 eggs, and used vanilla soy milk. I’m surprised at how good it is! Thanks!! will be making again!
Helen
the eggs would have added some extra oomph to make it rise, we found that just wholewheat leads to a very rustic loaf.
Ros
Great and easy recipe. My husband was disappointed that I wasn’t making bread with yeast but after I made it, I had to stop him from eating the whole loaf. This is my go to recipe now when I want to make homemade bread. Working with yeast is a far too long and drawn out process. Currently making some soup to go with it.
Olga
Helen, thank you very much! I like this bread! Wonderful combination of ingredients. It look so yummy!
Helen
I am so glad you like it
Alyssa
Helen, thanks! Very tasty bread turned out. Very cool photos!
Tammy
I’m so trying this…emergency bread…. Thank u
Anna
Thanks heaps I didn’t have milk or yogurt so I just used water, so far so good, easy and fast, I’ll let let u know what happens when its done
Helen
Thanks Anna, I’d be interested to know how it works with water.
Anna
Helen, this sounds yummy! I would definitely make it again! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Alina
Helen, it looks so yummy! I love the step-by-step instructions, making it an easy recipe to follow!