Brown Irish Soda Bread

The perfect bread for St Patrick's Day! and easy enough to make any night.

You cut a deep cross in the loaf to BLESS the bread and poke some holes to let out the fairies (or the Devil) Enjoy a slice of this slightly sweet bread with lots of butter. Slainte!


You will need:

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups white flour
• 1/3 cup wheatgerm
• 1 heaped tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 cups buttermilk

Step 1: heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2: in a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Add flours, wheatgerm, baking soda and salt.

Step 3: add honey to some of the buttermilk and stir to dissolve. 

Step 4: form a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in all the buttermilk and honey mixtures. Stir gently to start to combine, then turn out the entire wet shaggy mix onto the counter. I use a scraper to fold the dry into the wet and keep turning gently. I don't handle the dough very much or very long, just enough to make sure the dough is formed.

Step 5: grease a round baking tin with butter or oil and place the round loaf inside. With a sharp knife cut a cross or x on the loaf and poke some holes.

Step 6: bake for 30-40 minutes. I bake for 20, then flip over and bake a further 10 and continue for a final 10 or until the loaf is nicely browned and when you tap the bottom of the bread it sounds hollow. Let cool before slicing.

Slather with salted butter and enjoy!!