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    Home » Food » Homestead Kitchen Recipes

    Depression Era Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

    Modified: Aug 6, 2025 by Sarita Harbour · Published: Mar 14, 2022 · 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.

    Peanut butter bread slices on waxed paper.Pin
    Peanut butter bread slices. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    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?

    Simple Peanut Butter Bread sliced on a cutting boardPin

    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.

    Easy Peanut Butter Bread RecipePin

    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.

    For example, this Cheddar Cheese Quick Bread pairs well with soup. Next up, I'm going to try a Herb and Garlic Quick Bread.

    Is peanut butter bread healthy?

    Slices of Peanut Butter BreadPin

    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.)

    Two slices peanut butter breadPin

    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)
    Basic Ingredients for Peanut Butter BreadPin

    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.

    Mixing Flour and Sugar for Peanut Butter BreadPin

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

    Add peanut butter and milk.

    Smooth peanut butter for peanut butter bread recipePin


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

    Mixing depression era peanut butter loafPin


    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.

    Basic peanut butter bread loafPin


    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

    Recipe

    Simple Peanut Butter Bread sliced on a cutting boardPin

    Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

    Sarita Harbour
    Make this easy old-fashioned peanut butter bread recipe for a frugal breakfast or delicious snack.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Additional Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
    Course Bread and Quickbreads
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 243 kcal

    Equipment

    • Creamy Peanut Butter
    • Baking Powder
    • White Sugar
    • All Purpose Flour

    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
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    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.

    Notes

    Use one egg for a cakier-type peanut butter loaf.
    Try ½ cup of chocolate chips or frozen rasberries/strawberries for a fun variation.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 8gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 259mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9g
    Keyword peanut butter bread recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Depression Era Peanut Butter Bread Recipe text overlay on image of homemade peanut butter bread.Pin
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    About Sarita Harbour

    Sarita Harbour is a long-time freelance writer, blogger, and homesteader who has been creating online content for over 15 years. She’s the founder of An Off Grid Life, where she shares practical advice on self-reliance, homesteading, off-grid living, and homeschooling based on her 11-year adventure living in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories.

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    Sarita Harbour.

    I'm Sarita. My family and I lived off the grid for 11 years in Canada's far north. If I did it, you can too.

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