Irish Brown Bread Recipe (2024)

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by Marcie //March 7, 2023

This Irish Brown Bread recipe is everything you love about soda bread with the goodness of whole grains! It includes just 5 ingredients, it comes together in about 10 minutes and is the easiest homemade bread you’ll ever make!

I don’t eat a lot of gluten because I feel better when I keep it to a minimum. When I do indulge in it, most of the time it includes homemade bread because it’s one of my biggest weaknesses.

There’s nothing like warm focaccia bread fresh from the oven, and while it’s easy to make, there are easier ways to get my fix.

This Irish Brown Bread is my latest revelation. It’s similar to Irish soda bread, but it’s made with wholesome whole grains and there are no egg or sweeteners added.

It’s a blank canvas, making it perfect for dunking into Guinness beef stew or toasting it and slathering it with spreads like softened butter or jam.

I adore this bread, and I’m dreaming of my next loaf already. 🙂

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• Irish brown soda bread is rustic and wholesome with the goodness of whole wheat flour, rolled oats and the tangy flavor of buttermilk.
• It’s a quick and easy homemade bread with no yeast and it includes just 5 simple ingredients.
• It takes 10 minutes of prep and it bakes up in 30 minutes.
• It can be made dairy-free by using dairy-free buttermilk.

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Flour. I used half whole wheat and half all purpose flour for a hearty whole grain texture that’s not overly dense. You can certainly use all whole wheat flour or whole wheat white flour if you prefer.
• Rolled Oats. The rolled oats add great texture to the bread. Quick oats may be substituted.
• Buttermilk. The buttermilk adds a wonderful tangy flavor to this Irish brown bread. See the recipe card notes to make this recipe dairy-free.
• Baking soda. The baking soda is essential to leaven the bread. It reacts with the acidity in the buttermilk, forming small bubbles of carbon dioxide in the dough.
• Salt. 1/2 teaspoon salt enhances the flavor of the bread.
• Optional additions: This bread is a blank canvas that can be flavored a number of ways. Add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup for added sweetness, a teaspoon of caraway seeds, or a 1/2 cup raisins or currants.

How to make brown soda bread

Homemade bread doesn’t get any easier than this brown soda bread recipe. There’s no yeast involved, no proofing and no kneading, and it comes together in about 10 minutes.

The dough is quite wet, but it’s very easy to form into a ball on the prepared pan before popping it into the oven.

Pro tip: Use a combination of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour for a lighter texture. For 100% whole wheat bread, use all whole wheat flour or whole wheat white flour.

See the recipe card below for full instructions.

1. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add 1 cup of the buttermilk, stirring just until moistened, and add the remaining 1/4 cup if the dough seems a bit dry.
3. Form the dough into a ball on a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with additional rolled oats if desired.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when the bottom is tapped.

FAQs

Recipe notes

• Pro tip: Use a combination of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour for a lighter texture. For 100% whole wheat bread, use all whole wheat flour or whole wheat white flour.
• Dairy-free version: Combine your favorite non dairy milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and let stand for 10 minutes at room temperature.
• This Irish brown bread is a blank canvas that can be flavored a number of ways. Add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup for added sweetness, a teaspoon of caraway seeds, or a 1/2 cup raisins or currants.
• Store leftovers at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Toasted brown soda bread makes a great breakfast!

More bread recipes you’ll love:

• Beer bread
• Blueberry cornbread
• Homemade soft pretzels
• Honey cornbread muffins
• No Knead Bread by Jo Cooks
• Skillet cornbread
• Soft pretzel hot dog buns
• Sweet potato biscuits

Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

posted in: Bread, Freezer Friendly, Pantry recipes, Recipes, St. Patrick's Day, Vegetarian // 2 comments