A twist on traditional Irish soda bread, this walnut oatmeal sweet Irish 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 with a hot cup of coffee or tea!
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.
Buttermilk And 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!
Walnut Oatmeal Sweet Irish Soda Bread
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 toasted walnuts, chopped
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted for brushing
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, stir the buttermilk and 2 cups of the oatmeal together. Set aside for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Whisk together all purpose flour, cake flour, whole wheat flour, remaining ½ cup oatmeal, brown sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
- Use your fingers to work the 2 tablespoons of softened butter into the flour mixture, until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- After removing the bread from the oven, brush the top with the melted butter. Allow the bread to cool before slicing.
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.
If you like this sweet Irish soda bread recipe with its unusual infusion of nutty oatmeal, you might also enjoy these other delicious recipes that use oatmeal:
- Oatmeal Banana Pecan Bread
- Oat Flour Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
- Crunchy Homemade Granola Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- Oatmeal Cherry Cookies
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @unsophisticook on Instagram and hashtag it #unsophisticook.
Theresa says
Found your recipe looking for a different Irish Soda Bread. Made it yesterday and it's a keeper. I feel soaking the oatmeal in the buttermilk really gives this bread a rich oatmeal flavor. Eating it plain with butter is best. Tried toasting it and I felt like it lost that delicious oatmeal flavor. Thank you.
Samantha says
This bread was amazing! I lovee the texture that the toasted walnuts added. And you're right...Kerrygold butter put it over the top.
Gina Matsoukas says
This twist on Irish soda bread is amazing!
Toni says
It turned out perfect! Thank you so much for the tips and the recipe!
Amy says
This is amazing!!
Rachael Yerkes says
This is so perfect! Can't wait to make it for st patty's day!
Cheryl S says
what an awesome flavor combo!! perfect for St. Pat's Day!
Erin says
I love the walnuts and that this is a sweet version, so yummy!
Debbie says
I would love to make this for dinner, but have no wheat or cake flour.What about using AP flour?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Hi Debbie! I haven't tried making this recipe with all AP flour, so I really can't say. If you try it tonight, I'd love to hear how it turns out!
Joshua Hampton says
This soda bread looks fantastic. I can already taste it with my usual black coffee and butter.
munchy says
that bread looks sooo good i can taste it
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
That looks super delicious! I love walnuts and I think they are a great addition!
jessica says
Thanks for the clarification. I made it to go with our supper this evening and it was fantastic! My husband usually likes bread that it light and fluffy, but he's asked that I make it again. Score! I guess this was in the middle of the night for you since we're in South Korea. :)
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Oops, I guess I left that out! Add them when you add the oatmeal/buttermilk mixture. I'll edit the recipe now -- thanks!
jessica says
when do you put in the walnuts?