Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread
Soda bread is (according to Wikipedia) “a variety of quick bread traditionally made in a variety of cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as baking soda) is used as a raising agent rather than the more common yeast. The ingredients of traditional soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk. The buttermilk in the dough contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. Other ingredients can be added such as raisins, egg or various nuts.”
My soda bread is very basic. No nuts or fruit. If you’re looking for a fruity soda bread check out Greg and Katherine’s Irish soda bread post.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 4 tablespoons of sugar or honey
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (softened) *plus 2 tablespoons for the top of the bread*
- 1 & 1/4 cups of buttermilk *plus 2 tablespoons for the top of the bread*
- 1 egg
Pre-heat Oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl or mixer combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar or honey and butter. Add egg and buttermilk. If the dough is crumbly still add more buttermilk a tablespoon at a time until the dough isn’t crumbly.
Remove the dough from the mixer or bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough gently. Form the dough into a round shape.
Place the dough on a greased cookie sheet. *Combine the 2 tablespoons of butter and buttermilk* brush the top of the bread with the butter/buttermilk combination.
Make an X across the top of the loaf.
Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serve with homemade herb butter or butter and jam.
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- Posted in: baking ♦ blogging ♦ Cooking ♦ Dallas ♦ Dallas-Ft. Worth ♦ DFW ♦ Family ♦ food ♦ Frugal living ♦ homemaking ♦ How to ♦ just thinking ♦ meatless ♦ Texas ♦ things that make you go Yum
- Tagged: baking, Baking powder, Bread, Butter, Buttermilk, Irish bread, Recipe, Soda bread, Sodium bicarbonate, Tablespoon, Wikipedia
A Dash of Domestic 
A lovely simple and tasty loaf.
🙂 Mandy
I’ve been waiting for a recipe recommend for soda bread! Thanks for sharing!!
Mmm your bread looks wonderful, like it with butter and jam, thanks Jami.
Yum….whole wheat, I’m sold!
I made a Julia Child version not too long ago. Yours looks delicious!
I need to make a vegan version for this week! Currants are on my shopping list, ’cause I just feel like soda bread has to have currants.
All the Irish soda bread I’ve ever had has had raisins, which I HATE when cooked, so this is a pleasant surprise for me.
Without the fruit or nuts it is just a hearty wheat bread, which I prefer. 🙂
Nice recipe. I need to keep this on hand for when I need some homemade bread but don’t have time for yeast to rise.
Thanks for sharing.
Hee, hee. We have fruity bread! Thanks for the shout out. I like your WW take.
This sounds awesome! I love homemade bread especially when it’s easier to do. I would love for you to link it up to my first link party. I know my readers would love it too! http://weliketolearnaswego.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-i-learned-wednesday-1.html
Gorgeous – I too prefer just plain soda bread. A very nice recipe!
Thanks for linking up to my party last week! I hope to see you again tomorrow! http://weliketolearnaswego.blogspot.com/