Irish Soda Bread

Since it is St. Patrick's day this coming week, why not make a staple in that cuisine. The traditional soda bread is typically associated with the Ireland, but was first made by the Native Americans in the Americas using wood ash and brought back to Ireland were it was brought into the Irish Cuisine using baking soda.

Irish soda bread is a great simple quick bread that is dense, yet soft and creates an incredible crusty exterior as it bakes. The bread uses a few, simple and easy to find ingredients. The bread has no yeast, it gets all of it leavening from the mixture of buttermilk and baking soda creating tiny air holes as the bread loaf bakes. 

In a bowl, combine both flours, salt, and baking soda.

In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients.

Add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until well combined., but don't over work the dough. The dough will be slightly loose "shaggy" like texture. Gently press it together and place the dough into the prepared 4" x 8" bread loaf pan and top with sunflower seeds if desired.

Bake at 400°F for 60 minutes or until the top is crusty and browned lightly. Let the loaf cool in the pan then remove and let cool on a rack before slicing.

Irish Soda Bread

1 hour, 15 mins 1 Loaf Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, All-Purpose Flour, Vegetable Oil, Egg, Beaten, Baking Soda Molasses Buttermilk