Sally Lunn
A large, light, golden bun from a rich milk-and-egg dough, the Bath teatime bread, split and buttered. Just over three hours with rising.
Method
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Mix the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Add the milk, melted butter and eggs and mix into a soft, sticky dough.
-
Knead 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
-
Cover and leave to rise for 1 hour, until doubled.
-
Knock back the dough, shape into a round and drop into a greased and lined 18 cm deep round tin.
-
Cover and prove for 45 minutes, until it has risen to the top of the tin.
-
Heat the oven to 190°C / 375°F.
-
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when tapped underneath.
-
Brush with the sugar glaze while hot and cool on a wire rack.
Chef’s Tips
- Knead it well. The soft dough needs gluten to rise tall.
- Prove it to the top of the tin before baking.
- Glaze it straight from the oven for a glossy top.
Pairing Suggestions
- Butter
- Clotted cream and jam
- A pot of tea
Storage & Reheating
Best on the day. Keep in a bag 2 days and toast slices. Freeze for 2 months.
Common questions
How long does Sally Lunn take to make?
About 1 hour 5 minutes of hands-on work — 30 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking — plus 1 hour 45 minutes of rising and proving the dough, so allow 2 hours 50 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Sally Lunn?
Knead it well. The soft dough needs gluten to rise tall. Prove it to the top of the tin before baking. Glaze it straight from the oven for a glossy top.
What should I serve with Sally Lunn?
Butter; Clotted cream and jam; A pot of tea.
Can Sally Lunn be made ahead or frozen?
Best on the day. Keep in a bag 2 days and toast slices. Freeze for 2 months.
Is Sally Lunn suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Sally Lunn?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 8 g protein, 50 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
Cooked this? Leave a review
Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.