Irish Brown Bread Recipe
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.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add 1 cup of the buttermilk, stirring just until moistened, and add the remaining 1/4 cup if the dough seems a bit dry.
- Form the dough into a ball on a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with additional rolled oats if desired.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when the bottom is tapped.
FAQs
This Irish brown bread recipe includes a combination of whole wheat and all purpose flour, rolled oats, baking soda, buttermilk and salt.
The bread can easily be made 100% whole wheat by using all whole wheat flour or whole wheat white flour. The loaf will simply be more dense in texture.
Irish brown bread is the whole grain version of soda bread, and it became a staple in Ireland during the early 1800’s when baking soda was introduced to the country.
Brown bread utilized basic, affordable ingredients, which was significant during this time period because of widespread famine.
It included soft wheat flour, soured milk and salt. Baking soda was used to leaven the bread, which eliminated the need for yeast.
It’s still tradition today, and is perfect for dunking into soups and stews or enjoying toasted for breakfast with butter and jam.
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
Irish Brown Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour see notes for whole wheat options
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats plus more for sprinkling (optional); may sub with quick oats for less texture
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 1 1/4 cup buttermilk see notes for dairy-free option
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a large rimmed baking with parchment paper.
- Whisk the flours, oats, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined. Add 1 cup of the buttermilk, stirring to gently until incorporated. If the mixture looks dry, add the additional 1/4 cup stirring just until combined (do not over mix). The dough will be wet.1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/4 cup buttermilk
- Turn the dough out onto the prepared baking sheet and form into a ball. Using a sharp knife, cut an "x" in the center of the dough about 1/2" deep, then sprinkle additional oats over the top if desired.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Cool completely on a wire rack and enjoy!
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!
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
2 Comments on “Irish Brown Bread Recipe”
This looks perfect for this weekend! It keeps snowing so I will punch back with some delicious home baked bread. Thanks for the great idea/recipe!
I hope you enjoy it!