Brown Soda Bread

This Brown Soda Bread is an easy, traditional bread that produces a hallmark crusty exterior and a tender interior. It uses just a handful of ingredients, making it ideal for beginner bakers. It is perfect for any meal, especially slathered with butter!

According to my calendar and not the weather (68°F yesterday in Chicago?!), it is March 8th. That means that the green holiday is just a little over a week away. Although I do have a little Irish in my blood, I don’t get caught up in the revelry of tossing back one too many and chanting Erin Go Bragh. I do, however, wholeheartedly take part in the culinary traditions, like corned beef (I know, Americanized Irish), potatoes, cabbage, and… o.k., maybe a Guinness or two.

Soda bread- it seems everyone has a favorite recipe. Some are enriched with butter and eggs, some are flavored with added currants, raisins, or caraway seeds, and others (like mine) have none of the above. They all share in common the traditional leavening agents of baking soda and buttermilk; no yeast in this bread.

Made with part whole wheat flour, part all-purpose flour, a bit of brown sugar for sweetness, and the leavening agents mentioned above, this soda bread is quick and simple and has plenty of good flavor. In fact, this bread is so simple that my children (many years ago at a kids’ cooking class) made this recipe before I did.

Enjoyed fresh and warm from the oven that day, I was excited to have the recipe to take home. My additions of a little salt and a brushing of melted butter further enhance the bread’s wonderful taste and the crunchy texture of the crust.

Soda bread dries out rather quickly, so it is best served the day it is made. I like to make a batch just before dinner to serve warm, slathered with butter, to accompany a soup or stew. The next morning, a few slices make their way into the toaster for a little more butter and a bit of jam. Bread for dinner and toast for breakfast– mmm!

Other Irish breads you may enjoy…

Brown Soda Bread

By Nicole Prep: 5 minsCook: 35 minsTotal: 40 mins Servings: 12 This Irish brown bread recipe is perfect with soup, stews, or all by itself with a slathering of soft butter.

Ingredients 

• 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 2-3 cups buttermilk, well shaken
• 1 tablespoon (½ ounce) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flours, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Use your fingers to break up the brown sugar so no lumps remain. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add 2 ½ cups of the buttermilk. Using your hands or a rubber spatula, mix the ingredients in a full circle, drawing the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more buttermilk as needed until the dough is soft and smooth, but not too wet.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Gather the dough into one large or two small balls, rolling it around with lightly floured hands. Pat each ball into a round disk about 2 inches high.
4. Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush the top with the melted butter. Using a sharp knife, cut a small (and not too deep) X on the top.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes for the small loaves and 40-45 minutes for the large loaf. Transfer bread to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm, at room temperature, or reheat before slicing. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 221kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 562mg, Potassium: 176mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 98IU, Calcium: 61mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Source: Adapted from a Whole Foods’ kids cooking class.