Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By 5 Acres and A Dream
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Irish Soda Bread: Experiments With the Recipe

Thursday, August 21, 2025 10:04

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

Last St. Patrick’ Day, I made Irish Brown Bread, a type of Irish Soda Bread. I had never made it before and found it easy, quick, and quite good. It was crumbly in texture, but the flavor was nice. Nice enough to experiment with.

The Irish Soda Bread recipe that I used for my St. Pat’s dinner was the simplest and most traditional recipe I could find. This is because one of my study projects this year is trying to find recipes that are as historically authentic as possible. Part of my objective is to find simple techniques and ways to combine and cook the foods we have available to us. The next step is to see how I can adapt them.

Basic Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Photo from St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

4 cups flour (mix of wheat and white as desired, I used 50/50)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1¾ cups buttermilk (I used kefir)

Mix until ingredients are combined (over kneading will toughen the dough). Shape into a round, score a cross on top, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35-40 minutes. For a soft crust, wrap the hot bread in a tea towel while it cools.

Experiment #1

Summary: halved the recipe and added 1 duck egg and 1/4 cup less liquid. Baked in my smaller bread pans.

Egg salad on Irish soda bread and kimchi slaw with raisins.

Recipe

2 cups flour (50/50 whole wheat and white)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 duck egg
3/4 cup kefir

Mix until dough is workable but sticky. Pat into medium size bread pan and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes. Cool in baking pan with damp towel over top.

Experiment #2

Summary: Went for a larger loaf using the original amounts of flour. Replaced 1/2 cup of liquid in original recipe with 2 duck eggs. Substituted part of the flour with oatmeal flour because it seems to be added to a lot of modern Irish soda bread recipes.

Recipe

3.5 cups flour (50/50 whole wheat & white)
1/2 C oatmeal flour
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp salt
2 duck eggs
1 cup kefir
1/4 cup milk

Mix dough until kneadable but sticky. Shape and put in large bread pan. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 1 hour. Leave in pan and cover with damp kitchen towel to cool.

Experiment #3

Summary: Similar to experiment #2, but I added butter. I didn’t have duck eggs so I used chicken eggs. I also didn’t have much kefir so I used whey for the full 1.25 cups liquid.

Recipe

3.5 cups flour (50/50 whole wheat & white)
1/2 C oatmeal flour
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp salt
2 (chicken) eggs
1/4 cup softened butter
1.25 cups whey

Mix all ingredients until dough is sticky but workable. Pat into medium size bread pan and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes. Cool in baking pan covered with a damp towel.

What did we think?

All were good and we’d eat any of them again.
The soda bread texture is different from whole wheat yeast bread but they all sliced nicely.
My preferred recipe is #3 because the flavor was the best. I’m sure this is because of the butter, which will also likely help keep the loaf from drying out as quickly.

So, I’m calling this a very successful experiment. The best part is having a loaf bread recipe that can be made fairly quickly and with simple ingredients. If I ever run out of yeast, we can still have our toast and sandwiches.

Irish Soda Bread: Experiments With the Recipe

Source: https://www.5acresandadream.com/2025/08/irish-soda-bread-experiments-with-recipe.html

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Comments

Visits:	1,720,141,919
Stories:	8,477,477