Brown Irish Soda Bread with Molasses
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Brown Irish Soda Bread with Molasses is an easy-to-make Irish Brown Bread, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or anytime you’re craving a hint of the Emerald Isle. This no-yeast bread is deliciously moist and tender with a hint of sweetness.
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Absolutely wonderful with a bowl of Potato Leek Soup. But honestly, in my opinion, any bowl of soup can stand a thick slice of warm-from-the-oven brown soda bread.
Plus, this soda bread with molasses is a bit healthier.
This recipe isn’t, however, the more common Traditional Brown Irish Soda Bread which, I absolutely love. It’s based on an 1836 authentic recipe and has only 4 ingredients.
If you’re looking for a white soda bread with raisins recipe, you will love our Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Raisins. It’s a slightly sweeter version of soda bread.
But somewhere in between lays this Brown Irish Soda Bread with Molasses and becomes a perfect blending of the two. It’s utterly delicious, and fast becoming one my favorites — all year long.
What is Traditional Irish Soda Bread?
Distinctly Irish, soda bread is made with flour, often buttermilk and baking soda. It contains no yeast and requires no proofing, rising, or kneading.
Traditionally baked over an open fire, Irish soda bread is often served with sweet Irish butter and jam. Perfect toasted for breakfast, with soups and stews, like our Irish Stew: an Ancient and Hearty Dish or the Traditional Irish Lamb Stew.
But I also couldn’t imagine a meal of Shepherd’s Pie or Corned Beef and Cabbage without it either.
This versatile bread can also be seen on an Irish teatime table.
Why is there a cross on Irish Soda Bread?
Before baking soda bread, a cross is etched into the top of the dough with a sharp knife. The reason is traditional, it’s symbolic, and it’s also practical too.
Traditionally, bakers would etch a cross in the top of the Irish Soda Bread as a mark of blessing. The Lord’s Prayer says, “and give us this day our daily bread.”
Some also prick each of the four quadrants with the knife to, they say, let the fairies out.
And practically, creating a cross on the top of the bread allows the thicker parts of the bread to bake evenly.
Tips on Making Brown Irish Soda Bread with Molasses
- Handle the dough as little as possible to keep it soft and moist.
- Do not knead this bread the same way you knead yeast breads like our 100% Whole Wheat Bread. Handle it with care to keep it soft.
- My Irish grandmothers always let the bread cool with a tea towel over the top to keep the crust soft.
- Once the dough is formed, bake immediately so the buttermilk and baking soda can together work their magic and create a delicious soda bread.
Irish Soda Bread with Molasses Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this soda bread recipe. The exact measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Flour: a combination of both whole wheat and all-purpose flour. You could also substitute white bread flour for the all-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar plus molasses for sweetness, flavor, and texture
- Baking soda and baking powder for rise
- Cold butter, cubed, is cut into the flour for amazing texture
- Buttermilk and egg to bring the dough together
- Raisins or currants
What Kind of Pan Do I Need to Make Soda Bread?
My all-time favorite way to bake Irish Soda Bread is in a well-seasoned 10-inch cast iron skillet.
If you don’t have one, you can line a baking sheet with parchment or grease a 9 to 10-inch round cake pan or pie dish.
How Long Does Irish Soda Bread with Molasses Keep?
This soda bread can be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container, for 2 days. If the bread begins to dry, try toasting and slathering with butter.
For longer storage, the bread freezes well for up to 2 months.
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Brown Irish Soda Bread with Molasses
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 5 tablespoons cold butter cubed
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2/3 cup raisins or currants
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and coat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with butter or cooking spray. See options for baking pans in the Notes below.
- In a large bowl, combine flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and molasses.
- Cut in the cubed butter to the flour mixture using your fingers, a pastry cutter, or a fork. Continue working until the butter is about the size of peas. Stir in the raisins and make a well in the center of the flour. Pour the buttermilk and egg mixture into the well.
- Gently mix in the buttermilk until a shaggy dough is formed and it begins to come together. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, knead the dough gently until you can form a ball. and gently knead until most of the flour is moistened. Add additional buttermilk if needed or if the dough is too sticky, work in a bit more flour.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan. Using a very sharp knife, cut a cross into the top of the bread (Tradition holds that by carving a cross, you are blessing the bread). Then pierce the knife into the center of each quadrant of the bread.
- Bake the bread for about 45 minutes, or until the soda bread is golden and appears to be baked through. Tent a sheet of foil over the bread if it browns too quickly.
- Remove the bread from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Cover the bread with a clean tea towel, this will help keep the crust of the brown bread soft.
Video
Notes
Options for Baking Pans:
- Instead of using a 10-inch cast-iron pan, you can line a baking sheet with parchment or grease a 9 to 10-inch round cake pan or pie dish.
Storing the Bread:
- Cover and store leftover bread at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freezing the Soda Bread:
- Bake and cool the soda bread then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature, then reheat as desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Made this bread to go along with potato soup. Very good. Made a good sized loaf. Husband really liked it. I will definitely make it again.
Hi Annie! I’m so glad you’re family like the soda bread. Thank you for trying it!