Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

Here’s a whole-wheat Irish soda bread recipe that’s quick, easy, and delicious. Soda bread is great for getting warm bread on the table quickly (no kneading and rising like traditional bread!). Do you know why soda bread is “Irish”?

Yeast was not readily available in Ireland during times of famine, so the Irish combined baking soda with sour milk to leaven their everyday bread. Ireland was so well known for making soda bread that it became known as “Irish” soda bread. For more history on Irish soda bread, click HERE.

This recipe is not quite your traditional Irish soda bread because it also contains currants (or raisins may be substituted) and orange zest. They give it lots of flavor so it’s not bland bread. The recipe is adapted from Barefoot Contessa At Home by Ina Garten.

The “whole wheat” Irish soda bread comes from the addition of some whole wheat flour to give it some whole grain nuttiness rather than just using all-purpose flour.

This bread is delicious warm from the oven with some butter! It’s really so easy to make that it shouldn’t be reserved for just St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It makes dinner great any time, and is pretty good as toast too! It would be interesting to pair it with Keto-friendly Cabbage & Kielbasa soup for an Irish-themed meal.

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa At Home

Here's a recipe for an easy, flavorful (currants & orange zest) Irish soda bread that also uses some whole wheat flour.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 50 mins

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Course Breakfast, Main Course

Cuisine Irish

Servings 12 slices

Calories 258 kcal

Equipment

• Electric Stand Mixer
• Stand Mixer Paddle Attachment
• sheet pan

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the currants
• 1 cup finely ground whole wheat flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, in 1/2" dice
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup dried currants

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the flours, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low until the butter is mixed into the dry ingredients.
• In a separate bowl, beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together, and with the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture.
• Shake the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. The dough should be quite wet.
• Put the dough on a floured board and knead lightly into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan, and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread.
• Bake for 45 - 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

All-purpose flour can be used for the entire flour amount, but we use the freshly ground whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor.

Nutrition Facts

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

Serving Size

 

12 slice

Amount per Serving

Calories

258

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

6

g

9

%

Saturated Fat

 

3

g

19

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Cholesterol

 

28

mg

9

%

Sodium

 

426

mg

19

%

Potassium

 

231

mg

7

%

Carbohydrates

 

46

g

15

%

Fiber

 

3

g

13

%

Sugar

 

14

g

16

%

Protein

 

7

g

14

%

Vitamin A

 

205

IU

4

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

62

mg

6

%

Iron

 

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword soda bread, whole wheat

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!