Irish Brown Soda Bread Recipe
User Reviews
4.7
Irish Brown Soda Bread Recipe
Description
The Irish Brown Soda Bread Recipe features a blend of fine whole wheat and all-purpose flours with baking soda as a leavening agent, eliminating the need for yeast. Butter is rubbed into the flour mix to form coarse crumbs, which contributes to a crumbly texture. The addition of buttermilk and egg provides moisture and richness, binding the dough. The dough is gently shaped into a flat round and scored with a cross on top, a traditional step thought to help the bread bake evenly and aid in portioning. Four corner holes are poked for an old folk custom to ward off curses. The dough is then glazed and baked at a high temperature, resulting in a crisp golden crust and a soft, slightly dense interior characteristic of soda breads.
The bread carries a hearty, slightly tangy flavor from the buttermilk, balanced by the nutty notes of whole wheat flour. The texture contrasts between the tender crumb and the flaky crust make it suitable for pairing with savory dishes or enjoying simply with butter. This bread keeps well for a few days and can be toasted for breakfast or snacks.
As a practical tip, if buttermilk is not available, it can be made by mixing regular milk with lemon juice or white vinegar and letting it sit. The dough is soft and slightly sticky, so gentle handling and proper flour dusting when shaping help maintain the structure without overworking it.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour fine ground, 9 oz/260 g
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 9 oz/260 g
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter cubed, 1 oz/28 g, cold
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 ⅔ cups (13 fl oz/390 ml) buttermilk
- 1 tablespoons rolled oats
Notes
- To substitute buttermilk, mix 1 cup regular milk with 2 tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar. Let stand for at least 30 minutes before use.
- The dough is soft and sticky; use additional flour for dusting when shaping, but avoid adding too much to keep the bread tender.
- Score a deep cross on top and poke holes in the four corners before baking to help the bread bake evenly and follow traditional preparation.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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