Description
Molasses Brown Soda Bread brings Irish countryside comfort straight to your kitchen table, blending rich, earthy flavors with minimal fuss. Hearty slices pair perfectly with butter and jam, making breakfast or teatime feel like a warm embrace from an old friend.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1¾ cups buttermilk
Supportive Dry Ingredients:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Flavor and Topping Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1½ teaspoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups whole wheat flour, ½ cup rolled oats, 1½ teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix thoroughly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk 1¾ cups buttermilk with 2 tablespoons molasses until smooth.
- Create a small crater in the center of your dry ingredients and pour the liquid mixture into it.
- Gently stir with a fork until the dough just comes together, avoiding overmixing.
- Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead softly for about 1-2 minutes.
- Shape the dough into a round loaf, pressing it down slightly to flatten the top.
- Use a sharp knife to score a deep cross on the surface of your loaf.
- Sprinkle 1½ teaspoons of sesame or sunflower seeds across the top of the bread.
- Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet and slide into the 450°F oven.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 400°F and continue baking 20-25 minutes.
- Check doneness by tapping the bottom – it should sound hollow when ready.
- Remove from oven and let the bread rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Check buttermilk temperature to ensure it helps activate the baking soda for the best rise.
- Use a light touch when kneading to keep the bread tender and prevent a dense texture.
- Sesame or sunflower seeds add crunch and nutty flavor, but feel free to swap with other seeds or skip entirely.
- Store wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to maintain the bread’s crusty exterior and soft interior.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg