Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread
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Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread is easy to make and absolutely delicious! This classic quick bread has a hint of sweetness, caraway seeds and plump raisins baked into every bite! It’s perfect to serve with your favorite St. Patrick’s Day meal or with a cup of coffee.
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If you have Irish roots, chances are your family has a beloved Irish soda bread recipe passed down through generations. This version is inspired by my mother’s treasured recipe, a tradition in our home for years. I’ve given it a wholesome twist by using whole wheat flour and Greek yogurt, making it a bit healthier while keeping all the classic flavor and charm.
Recipe highlights:
What You’ll Need
Ingredient List
How to Make Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread
Prepare: Measure the ingredients, preheat the oven to 375, line a pan with parchment paper.
STEP 1: Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, caraway seeds and raisins in a large mixing bowl. Gently stir to combine them with a wooden spoon.
STEP 2: Whisk the egg, buttermilk and yogurt together in a small bowl. Once combined, add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients.
STEP 3: Blend the wet and dry ingredients together using a wooden spoon, electric blender or stand mixer at low speed until a sticky dough forms.
STEP 4: Form the dough into 2 mounds of equal size and place them into a prepared baking sheet or pan; bake for 45 minutes.
Note: The dough will be very sticky, use your hands or a rubber spatula to mound the dough into loaves.
Tips for making the best soda bread
- Don’t overmix the dough. Soda bread comes together quickly; overmixing can make it dense and tough.
- Use cold ingredients. Cold buttermilk and Greek yogurt help create a better rise ane texture.
- Before baking, cut a deep “X” across the top of the dough. This helps the bread to bake evenly.
Soda bread ingredient notes
Soda bread is a quick bread, meaning it rises without yeast. Instead, the combination of baking soda and buttermilk acts as a natural leavener while keeping the bread soft and tender. I also love adding Greek yogurt for an extra boost in rise and a deliciously moist texture.
No buttermilk? No problem! You can easily make your own by adding two tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 ¾ cups of regular milk. Stir it and let it sit for about 5 minutes—once it thickens, it’s ready to use in your batter!
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Serving Suggestions
Serve homemade soda bread plain or with butter smeared on it at breakfast with a breakfast pie or quiche, as a side with corned beef and cabbage, or your favorite St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
How to store it
Irish soda bread is best when eaten shortly after it’s been baked, but will last for two to three days wrapped in parchment paper or aluminum foil.
It also freezes well. This recipe makes two loaves and you can freeze one loaf once it’s reached room temperature by wrapping it in parchment paper and foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
Thaw frozen Irish soda bread at room temperature overnight.
Slice the bread before freezing for individual servings.
Recipe variations
Traditional – Leave out the raisins and caraway seeds for a more traditional Irish soda bread.
Nutty – Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds or pistachios to the bread dough.
Muffins – Instead of loaves, add the mixed dough to a muffin tin or cupcake tin and bake for 30 minutes.
Egg Free – Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water).
Dairy-Free – Use plant-based yogurt and milk. For a vegan version, use a flax egg in addition to plant-based dairy products.
Cranberry Soda Bread – This festive cranberry orange soda bread recipe is a tasty variation!
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Buy Now → Recipe FAQs
While you can try using gluten-free flour, the texture and taste of the bread may be different from this recipe. Gluten-free flours usually require additional ingredients or adjustments. It’s best to look for a specific gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe for the best results.
Yes, you can but you may have to add a little more liquid to the all whole wheat version. Keep in mind that using only whole wheat flour will produce a more dense bread.
Try these healthier baked goods recipes
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Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar optional
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups raisins
- 2 tablespoons caraway seeds optional
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup organic Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- Line a baking pan or cast iron pan with parchment paper or coat it with oil.
- Combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins, and caraway seeds in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk an egg then add the buttermilk and yogurt to the egg; whisk them all together.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and combine with an electric mixer at medium to low-speed.
- Mound the dough into two prepared pans and bake for 40 minutes.
Notes
- If buttermilk is not available, you can make your own by adding 2 tablespoons of white or apple cider vinegar to the whole milk a few minutes before adding it to the batter.
- You can make this recipe with all whole wheat flour or all white flour. The bread will be more dense if all whole wheat flour is used.
- This recipe makes two loaves of bread, you can freeze one loaf by wrapping it in parchment paper and then foil or freezer paper after it has baked and cooled off. Store it in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. To thaw, remove the bread from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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