Whole Grain Irish Soda Bread
Whole grain Irish soda bread with whole wheat flour and oats.
Almost everyone I know makes corned beef and cabbage for Saint Patrick’s day dinner, but how many of you also make Irish soda bread? It gets overlooked pretty often, but it’s one of my favorite Saint Patrick’s Day foods.
This year, I decided to try something a little different and cross my favorite soda bread (which is slightly sweet and loaded with raisins and caraway) with a traditional brown bread. The result was fantastic! Whole wheat flour gives the bread a nutty, toasty flavor and steel coat oats give it a great, rustic texture. Slathered with Irish butter and sprinkled with a touch of sea salt, it’s great with your meal or on its own for breakfast.
Irish soda bread is a quick bread – it uses baking soda instead of yeast, so you don’t need to wait for the dough to rise. It only takes a few seconds to mix up, and then about a half hour in the oven. It really couldn’t be easier!
The dough is also really forgiving. It’s pretty hard to mess up! You don’t even need a bread pan; I baked mine right in my cast iron skillet.
Whole Grain Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1½ cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup steel cut oats
- ½ cup sugar
- 2½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425ºF. Grease the bottom of a 9 inch round baking pan or oven proof skillet.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, oats,, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until just combined. Stir in the raisins.
- Form the dough into a boule and place on the greased pan. Use a serrated knife to cut an "x" into the top of the bread. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked throughout.
You’re right! We finished one whole loaf in one evening!! I’m glad we made two loaves so we have a slice to toast this morning.
The crunchy crust is absolutely devine!
By the way, I made a vegan version by replacing the buttermilk with Forager cashew milk and 1T of vinegar and replacing the butter with Earth Balance.
I also made it savory by cutting the sugar back to 1/4 cup and adding fresh rosemary, sage and thyme.
I’m so happy that you love it! Your savory version sounds delicious. <3
i have never made Irish soda bread but i think i need to start this tradition.
Love that you added Steel cut oats! Gotta try this for St. Patty’s day.
This looks so tasty! Perfect for a proper Irish tea!
I always love whole grain breads more, so I bet your version of Irish Soda Bread is even better than the original!
I actually don’t think I’ve had Irish soda bread since elementary school! Whoa. It has been way too long. Love your loaf!
This looks so good! I love Irish Soda Bread!