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Irish Brown Soda Bread

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What does every Irish meal need? A traditional Irish Brown Soda Bread recipe made with oats, buttermilk and molasses, served with softened butter. It is the perfect addition to any meal, Irish or not!

Check out this Irish Pub Food page for even more delicious Irish recipes.

Irish Brown Soda Bread on a beige napkin with plates and softened butter in the background.

Baking soda has been a staple raising agent in Irish kitchens since the nineteenth century. It produces a dense-textured bread that your family will not be able to resist. It smells amazing, and this recipe is super simple make at home.

Irish Brown Soda Bread ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Old-fashioned Rolled oats, not quick oats
  • Sea salt
  • Baking soda
  • Buttermilk
  • Molasses

Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below

Looking down on a loaf of Irish Brown Soda Bread cooling on a beige napkin.

How to make Irish Brown Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Molasses

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.

Combine the flours, oats, sea salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl.

Flour, oats, salt and soda in a large glass bowl.

Whisk the buttermilk and molasses together in a large measuring cup or pitcher.

Buttermilk and molasses in a glass measuring cup.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, then pour in the buttermilk mixture.

Buttermilk molasses mixture poured into the center of the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Use a fork (or bread whisk) to stir the liquid into the flour mixture, mixing from around the edge into the center.

Dry and wet ingredients mixed together in a large glass bowl.

Lightly knead with floured hands to form a soft dough.

Knead the mixture into a soft dough.

Shape the dough into a circle and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Press to flatten until dough circle is about 2-inches thick.

Bread dough shaped into a circle on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Use a sharp knife with a long blade to cut a deep cross into the top of the dough.

Cut a deep cross into the top of the bread dough circle.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 400 degrees. Continue cooking for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, until the bottom of the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with butter (Kerrygold of course)

A torn slice of Irish Brown Soda Bread covered with melted butter and sitting on a small white plate with a bowl of seafood chowder in the background.

Seriously delicious, and makes the perfect addition to a bowl of Creamy Seafood Chowder, Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Guinness Beer-Braised Chicken Thighs!

Can I substitute regular milk?

No you cannot. You need the acid from the buttermilk to react with the baking soda, this is what causes the bread to rise. You can however substitute 1.75 cups regular milk mixed with 3.5 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice if needed.

Tools used to create this recipe

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More delicious bread recipes

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Enjoy!!

Irish Brown Soda Bread on a beige towel.

Irish Brown Soda Brown

This traditional Irish Brown Soda Bread recipe made with oats, buttermilk and molasses is the perfect addition to any meal!
5 from 2 votes
Print Rate
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: recipe, traditional, soda, brown, buttermilk, molasses, oats, easy, homemade
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 282kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

  • 2 cup all-purpose flour plus extra for kneading
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • .5 cup Old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1.5 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1.75 cups buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons molasses

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
  • Combine the flours, oats, sea salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
  • Whisk the buttermilk and molasses together in a large measuring cup or pitcher.
  • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, then pour in the buttermilk mixture.
  • Use a fork (or bread whisk) to stir the liquid into the flour mixture, mixing from around the edge into the center.
  • Lightly knead with floured hands to form a soft dough.
  • Shape the dough into a circle and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Press to flatten until dough circle is about 2-inches thick.
  • Use a sharp knife with a long blade to cut a deep cross into the top of the dough.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 400 degrees. Continue cooking for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, until the bottom of the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with butter.

Notes

You cannot substitute regular milk for the buttermilk. You need the acid from the buttermilk to react with the baking soda, this is what causes the bread to rise. You can however substitute 1.75 cups regular milk mixed with 3.5 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 631mg | Potassium: 305mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 3mg

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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