Walnut Oatmeal Sweet Irish Soda Bread

Sweet Irish Soda Bread

We've been eating a lot of homemade bread around here lately, mainly the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes variety because it's SO. DARN. EASY... But I've really been wanting to try my hand at a good Irish soda bread for a while now.

You see, on a visit to Washington D.C. several years ago, I had the most wonderful walnut oatmeal soda bread at a quaint little restaurant near the Capitol Building. I've always wanted to recreate it, but tracking down a recipe proved to be quite the challenge.

So when I stumbled across a recipe in The Boston Globe that sounded like it could be similar, I immediately added some buttermilk to my grocery shopping list to give it a try. And I'm happy to say it does not disappoint! Slightly sweet and nutty, with a dense texture that's the perfect pairing for a creamy, slathering of butter, it works well as a meal side or as breakfast or a snack with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

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Buttermilk + Oatmeal Soda Bread

Traditional Irish soda bread recipes call for only four ingredients: flour, buttermilk, baking soda and salt. While this recipe has a few additional ingredients, it still comes together fairly quickly -- that is once you've soaked the oatmeal in the buttermilk.

Be sure to note that you ONLY soak part of the oatmeal! Soaking it all is a surefire way to derail this recipe from the start. Ask me how I know...

How To Make Irish Soda Bread

While the oatmeal is soaking in the buttermilk, you can start prepping the dry ingredients so they're ready to go. Whisk together the various flours, remaining oatmeal, brown sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Then work two tablespoons of softened butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. At the end of the soaking period, stir the oatmeal/buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture, and it's time to knead the dough.

The soda bread dough is kneaded just until it comes together. Don't worry if it's still be a bit lumpy and shaggy -- this is perfectly normal. Form it into a 6-inch round disc and slice an X in the top of it with a serrated knife. I love my silicone baking mat for this part, because it makes it so simple to gauge the size of your dough, and nothing sticks to it!

This walnut soda bread can be baked on a baking sheet, or you can choose to bake it in a cast iron skillet, which is the method I choose. Just be careful of that hot handle when removing it from the oven!

Oatmeal Soda Bread with Sweet Irish Butter

If you have the inclination, a little homemade butter (so easy!!) is divine on this sweet Irish soda bread when it's warm, right out of the oven! But a sweet Irish butter, like Kerrygold, is also an excellent choice. However you top it, it's definitely a recipe that you'll want to make well beyond St. Patrick's Day!

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Recipe Card

Walnut Oatmeal Sweet Irish Soda Bread

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

A twist on traditional Irish soda bread, this oatmeal soda bread recipe is slightly sweet and nutty, with a dense texture that pairs perfectly with a creamy slathering of butter. Try it as a meal side or as breakfast or a snack with a hot cup of coffee or tea!

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Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats, divided
• 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
• 2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for shaping
• ½ cup cake flour
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1 tablespoon melted butter, for brushing

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, stir the buttermilk and 2 cups of the oatmeal together. Set aside for one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Whisk together all purpose flour, cake flour, whole wheat flour, remaining ½ cup oatmeal, brown sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
4. Use your fingers to work the 2 tablespoons of softened butter into the flour mixture, until it resembles coarse crumbs.
5. Add the oatmeal/buttermilk mixture and toasted walnuts to the flour mixture, and stir with a fork until combined. You may need use your hands to work it all together.
6. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface or pastry mat just until the mixture comes together but is still slightly bumpy. Kneading it until it's smooth will overwork the dough and make your bread tough.
7. Form the dough into a 6-inch disc that is about 2 inches high. Using a serrated knife, cut an X in the top of the disc. If desired, brush with a bit of buttermilk and sprinkle additional oats on top.
8. Bake in a cast iron pan or on a parchment-covered baking sheet for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the bread starts to brown too much, a piece of foil tented over the top will prevent further browning.
9. After removing the bread from the oven, brush the top with the melted butter. Allow the bread to cool before slicing.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 servings Serving Size: 1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 304Total Fat: 11.5gSaturated Fat: 2.6gCholesterol: 7.8mgSodium: 425mgCarbohydrates: 44.8gFiber: 4.0gSugar: 5.1gProtein: 8.7g

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How Long Will Irish Soda Bread Keep?

Irish soda bread can dry out quickly. Wrapped up tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, it will keep at room temperature for around 3-4 days. You can also freeze it to prevent it from getting stale.

How To Freeze Irish Soda Bread?

Yes, this sweet Irish soda bread freezes well! Simply wrap it tightly in aluminum foil, then place is in a gallon freezer storage bag. It will keep for 2-3 months. Thaw and reheat as desired.

How To Reheat Irish Soda Bread?

Remove the bread from the freezer, and allow it to thaw completely before unwrapping. After the bread has come to room temperature, you can pop it in the oven on a baking sheet for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees.