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    Home » baked goods » bread » Loafing Around: Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    Loafing Around: Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    Mar 5, 2014 · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    In case it wasn't totally obvious from my blog post, I am completely over this winter stuff. Like, beyond over.

    And yet, the snow keeps falling and the arctic air keeps blowing, so I'm resorting to fighting back the only way I know how... through compulsive baking.

    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    My personal preference will always be fresh-baked bread, but I don't always have the time to hang around the house and wait for the yeast to do its thing, which is where quickbreads come in.  

    As you might guess from the name, they're quick, and some varieties are even quite bready.

    I've yet to meet a quickbread I don't like, but my very favourite among them is Irish soda bread. That crunchy crust and tender crumb dotted with caraway seeds and raisins is just so gosh-darned good I could almost swear off yeast bread for life.

    (Almost. Me and yeast breads are still totes BFFs for life.)

    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    Crusty Whole Grain Bread - No Yeast Required!

    With St Patrick's Day around the corner, the quickbread du jour at my house right now is this gorgeously hearty multigrain Irish soda bread I recently concocted by adding some multigrain cereal blend and whole wheat flour to my base recipe.

    This loaf is much denser and chewier and nuttier than the original, but still has all the things I love best about soda bread, including that irresistible crunchy crust and lots of caraway and raisins for flavour.

    All it takes is a few minutes and a big bowl to toss it all together, so there's no excuse to make a loaf. Like, right now.

    Believe me, fresh and still-hot out of the oven with a generous spread of butter, it's about as close to heaven as you'll get without leaving your house. (Though it's also pretty good packed up in your lunch bag for a mid-morning coffee break if you have to drag your shivering cold self to work.)

    It's not quite enough to make you forget about this miserable winter weather, but it sure makes it a little more bearable.

    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    The History of Irish Soda Bread

    Soda bread is actually a relatively recent addition to Irish cuisine, having been concocted in the earlier half of the 19th century with the introduction of commercially-produced baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda, as it was known back then).

    It became popular because the wheat grown in Ireland is a soft wheat, which means it lacks the high gluten content that is required for baking yeast breads. However, this lower gluten content makes it absolutely perfect for baking tender quickbreads.

    The leavening action in this bread comes from the chemical reaction between the baking soda and the buttermilk. Remember those baking soda volcanoes from grade school? The same principle applies here, except all the gas gets trapped within the batter, helping it to rise as it bakes.

    Strictly speaking, a true Irish soda bread does not have raisins, but they're almost ubiquitous in North American versions of the recipe. Personally, I rather like the sweetness of the raisins, so I went ahead and added a handful of golden raisins to this recipe. If you're a purist, feel free to leave them out.

    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    More Easy Breads You Can Make Without Yeast

    Quickbreads are surefire winners if you're looking to whip up a loaf for dinner within the next couple of hours, or if you're short on yeast and don't want to run out to the store.

    Here are a few more delicious breads that can go from bowl to oven to table in no time flat:

    • Apple Cheddar Beer Quickbread from Crumb
    • Buttermilk Quick Bread from The Kitchn
    • Five Ingredient Olive Oil Bread from I Heart Vegetables
    • Cottage Cheese and Onion Herb Bread from Mind Over Batter

    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    //

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    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread

    Multigrain Irish Soda Bread


    ★★★★★

    5 from 3 reviews

    • Author: Isabelle Boucher (url href="https://www.crumbblog.com"]Crumb[/url])
    • Total Time: 1 hour
    • Yield: 16 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Multigrain cereal blend gives this healthier twist on Irish soda bread a crunchy, hearty texture and delicious nutty flavour.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup whole wheat flour
    • 1 cup multigrain cereal blend, like Bob's Red Mill
    • ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
    • ¼ cup golden raisins
    • 1 tbsp caraway seeds
    • 2 tsp baking soda
    • ¾ tsp salt
    • 1 ½ cups buttermilk
    • 2 tbsp honey

    Topping:

    • 1 tsp buttermilk
    • 2 tbsp rye flakes or quick oats

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
    2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, multigrain cereal, pumpkin seeds, raisins, caraway seeds, baking soda and salt. Add buttermilk and honey, and stir until just barely combined.
    3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead for 2-3 minutes or until soft and elastic. Shape into a ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
    4. Brush the top of the loaf with buttermilk, and sprinkle with rye flakes. Using a sharp knife, score a shallow X into the loaf. Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden-brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 50 mins
    • Category: Breads
    • Method: Baked
    • Cuisine: Irish

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    Comments

    1. Alice says

      May 1, 2014 at 8:18 pm

      Warning: This Irish Soda Bread is addicting!! Wow...the pumpkin seeds really added to the texture and taste. I don't care for caraway seeds, so eliminated that and added currants instead. Freezes very nicely, too! Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe :)

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. movita beaucoup says

      March 8, 2014 at 7:42 am

      Normally, I like winter what with all its prettiness and nudge towards all things cozy. But this winter? It's enough all ready. Perhaps baking some bread will help - I've been relying on cookies and cakes with only moderate success!

      Reply
    3. [email protected] says

      March 6, 2014 at 8:41 pm

      That loaf is incredibly beautiful!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Liz says

      March 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm

      I love, love a grainy, seedy bread. And the fact that it's a quick bread makes it even more appealing! I can have it in my mouth in about an hour :)

      Reply
    5. ATasteOfMadness says

      March 6, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      Oh yum! I am so for no yeast breads. This looks SO good!

      Reply
    6. Kristen says

      March 6, 2014 at 7:59 am

      I broke down and made a gluten free version of soda bread this year because I missed it so much. I agree with you that it's my favorite non-yeast bread. Wish I could handle your version.

      I think the entire northern-western hemisphere has had it with winter. I love it in small doses, but this year is ridiculous.

      Reply
    7. kita says

      March 6, 2014 at 7:41 am

      I haven't tried Irish soda bread since I was a small child. I think I was used to the over sugary sweet white breads that my family picked up on the cheap and I didn't take to soda bread. I just realized I need to give it a try now that I'm older! :D This loaf looks beautiful.

      Reply
    8. Dionne Baldwin says

      March 6, 2014 at 1:21 am

      Wow this is a great comfort bread. I want to sit down with a loaf, butter and a hot cup of tea. That's all. Just for me. :)

      Reply
    9. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

      March 5, 2014 at 7:51 pm

      Your bread looks SO hearty and comforting and just delicious. Like..I want it smothered in butter....or dipped in soup....or to scoop up extra pasta sauce....mmmmmm

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. PolaM says

      March 5, 2014 at 3:06 pm

      Wow the crumb on that soda bread looks amazing! Almost like the one of some yeasted bread!

      Reply
    11. Christiane ~ Taking On Magazines says

      March 5, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Can you believe I've never had Irish soda bread? Looking at your gorgeous loaf, it's making me wonder why I haven't. I love that you upped the flavor with pumpkin seeds and cereal blend. I'm especially thrilled that you used golden raisins.

      Reply

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    Hello! I'm Isabelle, and this is my blog. I'm a 40-something coffee-chugging, booty-shaking, bargain-shopping, trucker-swearing self-taught cook with a major addiction to vintage cookbooks. Come for the recipes, stay for the terrible puns! Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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