Irish Brown Soda Bread (No Rise)

Do you ever want homemade bread for dipping into soups, stews, pasta sauces…or simply just to spread some butter onto? But, you don’t want to go through the time it takes to allow a yeasted dough to rise? Or, you don’t want to have to knead the dough for that arm workout? You just want a simple, easy bread that can be ready in about an hour, with minimal effort, and only a few ingredients.

That’s Irish brown soda bread. 

It’s a rustic, homemade bread that’s so simple to make, you will want to make it non-stop.

There is no rise time required, no kneading required, it only takes a 10 minutes to bring the dough together, and it only requires 6 simple ingredients to make it. Pop it in the oven while you’re cooking the rest of your meal…and you will have a homemade loaf of bread in no time!

The Irish know how to do it, my friends. They know all about making hearty, crusty, whole wheat bread at home, with very little effort.

I was first introduced to brown soda bread while I was studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland for a semester of college. It was offered at any restaurant, pub, and hotel I stayed at.  It was served for breakfast with Irish butter, and jam, and it was served along side any stew or soup I ordered, for dipping. It was a delight. 

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon, so what better time to update this brown soda bread that I originally shared in 2015? New photos, a better tested recipe, better SEO. All the things to make this post seen more often.

What is brown soda bread?

Soda  bread is a quick bread that uses baking soda, and the acid from buttermilk for the leavening agent, rather than yeast.

This is the reason it’s considered a quick bread, and doesn’t require any rising time. We don’t need the yeast to ferment for hours on the counter. 

It gets it’s name from the whole wheat flour, giving the bread a brown color. And, the baking soda used to make it rise. 

Side note: there is also soda bread, which is the same concept. Except, it’s made exclusively with all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour. Both are delicious, but when  I was in Ireland the brown soda bread was more common.

Do the Irish eat brown soda bread?

Yes!!!

I know first hand.

when I was living in Ireland, it was served to me at so many pubs and restaurants. I  even bought it freshly baked at my local market so that I could have some at home.

I also learned that soda bread is commonly made in homes all over Ireland. Like any other recipe, I am sure, each family has their own perfected way of making it. 

This is my take on it.

 

Ingredients for brown Irish soda bread:

Of course the measurements for the ingredients are in the recipe card below. Let’s discuss them here for a minute, so you have a better understanding.

• whole wheat flour – this flour is what gives the bread that brown color, and dense, hearty texture that is so loved. The whole wheat flour lends a nice nutty taste to the bread too.
• all purpose flour – a little all-purpose flour helps to lighten the texture of the bread up a bit.
• baking soda – this is our leavening agent. It’s the magic thing that helps our bread to rise in the oven. Make sure you’re not using old baking soda, as it loses it’s rising properties over time. Also, make sure to level off your measuring spoon, so you don’t accidently add too much baking soda – this can turn your bread green, and add a bitter taste. 
• kosher salt – to flavor the bread.
• buttermilk – tangy, lovely, buttermilk. This provides the acid in the bread so that it reacts with the baking soda to create bubbles, and rise in the oven. (See notes of the recipe card for a faux buttermilk recipe, if you can’t get buttermilk, or don’t have it on hand).
• egg – an egg helps to add a hint of richness to the bread, and bind it together.

That’s all you need to make a beautiful loaf of bread!!!! Who else is excited about how simple this is?!?!

How to make brown soda bread:

Of course, more exact directions are in the recipe card below, but lets give you a snapshot of how this bread is made here.

1. Preheat your oven. Dust a baking sheet with flour. 
2. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Mix together the buttermilk and the egg.
4. Combine – add the wet to the dry ingredients and stir until a dough forms.
5. shape the dough – transfer the dough to the floured work surface and use your hands to form it into a ball. No kneading required, it’s supposed to look rustic. Transfer to the floured baking sheet.
6. Bless the dough – A traditional loaf of Irish soda bread has a cross on it. Use a sharp knife to cut a deep cross in it.
7. Brush with buttermilk – to help with browning.
8. Bake – bake for a total of 45 minutes.
9. Cool – allow the loaf to cool completely before slicing.
10. Serve – serve with a generous amount of salted butter, and/or jam. SO GOOD!

See? EASY!!!!

What to serve brown soda bread with:

This bread is crusty, and soft on the inside, chewy, and a little dry. A slice is best eaten with a generous amount of good salted butter.  I highly recommend trying Kerrygold Irish butter, made from Irish grass-fed cows, if you can find it.  I love that it’s easy to find in my local grocery store these days. It’s so rich in flavor, it doesn’t compare to any other butter I have had that’s made in the States.

Of course, you can also spread a little jam on top of that buttered slice of bread. This is especially great if you’re enjoying the the bread for breakfast with a cup of tea, or coffee.

You can also serve brown soda bread as a side, to go along with any soup or stew for dipping into that broth. Since the bread is so dry and hearty, it’s perfect for soaking up anything that’s saucy.

Try making my Irish stew for a full Irish experience. So good!

Is brown soda bread healthy?

Yes.

It’s has 4 grams of fiber from the whole wheat flour. This bread will help keep you full for hours, when eaten with a meal.

Is this recipe gluten free?

No.

I know I focus on a lot of gluten free recipes on this blog, but unfortunately this recipe doesn’t have a simple gluten free swap. There isn’t really a whole wheat gluten free flour out there that acts the same way.

However, I did make s separate recipe a few years ago, for a gluten free brown soda bread using Bob’s Red Mill gluten free hearty whole grain bread mix. It’s not exactly the same, but it’s a close second.

I would like to try making a recipe for a white soda bread that can be adapted to be gluten free, in the future. It’s on my list.

Is brown soda bread the same as sourdough?

No.

Sourdough is made using a sourdough starter that has captured wild yeast. The yeast in the starter is what makes the bread rise.

Brown soda bread is a quick bread. It uses baking, soda and the acid from buttermilk to create a chemical reaction in the oven.

Why doesn’t soda bread need to rise?

Since we aren’t using a yeast in this bread as our leavening agent, we don’t need to give the yeast time to ferment and create bubbles in the dough. The bubbles, and rising action, happens in the oven with the combo of the baking soda, and the acid in the buttermilk.

This is why this recipe is so great for when you want homemade bread quickly.

Should I knead my soda bread?

No. 

This is a no-knead, no-fuss bread recipe. 

I do instruct you to give it about 2 kneads on the counter, just enough to shape the dough. But, it is not a bread that you need to knead more than once or twice.

Why is my brown soda bread doughy in the middle?

This is likely due to not baking the bread long enough, or at a hot enough temperature.

Make sure to allow your oven to pre-heat fully before putting the bread in the oven. And, follow the directions exactly for baking temperatures and time. Don’t open the oven during the baking process at all, this will lower the temperature of your oven, and release steam affecting the final result of your bread.

You will know the bread is done when the top is golden brown. And, the bread sounds hollow when you tap on it. 

Another reason your bread might be doughy, is if you cut into it when it was still warm. Make sure to allow it to cool completely before slicing, for the best results.

Keep in mind, that if you consistently have a problem with your bread being doughy in the center, that your oven might not be exact in temperature (this is a common issue). To ensure your oven is cooking at the correct temperature, you can purchase an oven thermometer. You can also get your oven re-calibrated so it’s at the correct temperature.

Reasons you will fall in love with Irish brown soda bread:

• It’s easy to make!
• No rise-time,
• and, no kneading required.
• Only 6 ingredients!
• It’s crusty, and chewy on the outside,
• and, tender on the inside.
• It’s got a slight nutty flavor from the whole wheat flour.
• Spread it with butter,
• and jam.
• Serve it with tea, or coffee, in the morning
• Dip it into stews, and soups.
• It’s healthy – packed with fiber.
• There is nothing more satisfying than making homemade bread.

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes to help you celebrate:

• healthy fish pie
• Irish champ (mashed potatoes with green onions)
• Irish tea bread (AKA barmbrack)
• traditional Irish shepherd’s pie
• traditional Irish stew (a great one to accompany the soda bread)
• healthy shamrock shake
• Easy Irish Coffee

Did you make this recipe?

Tell me how it went. Leave a comment below along with a star rating. This helps others to find my recipes easier, and I love hearing from you. Thanks.

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