Irish Brown Bread Recipe (2024)

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My Irish Brown Bread is a family recipe for authentic Irish bread with a hearty texture. It's made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and buttermilk.

If you've been to Ireland and stayed at any B & B, the experience of enjoying a warm slice of brown bread with fresh creamy butter and marmalade will be a fond memory. If you haven't had the experience, don't worry, this is the bread to transport you to the Irish countryside.

This is a yeast-free bread that is rich and hearty in flavor from whole wheat flour and rolled oats.

Looking for specifics on the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why this recipe works
  • 🔪 Ingredients
  • 🍲 Equipment
  • ⭐ How to store, reheat, and freeze
  • 💭 Expert Tips
  • 📋 Frequently Asked Questions
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🥗 Serving Suggestions
  • 🍽 Similar recipes
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why this recipe works

  • This is another blue ribbon winner, just like our very popular Irish Soda Bread. This bread has also won many blue ribbons atbaking contests.
  • This brown bread uses simple ingredients that are easy to find.
  • Our bread is yeast-free bread so there is no waiting for it to rise.
  • Irish brown bread recipe is not just for St. Patrick's Day. We make this about 2-3 times a week.

🔪 Ingredients

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🍲 Equipment

⭐ How to store, reheat, and freeze

Once baked, the bread can be kept on the counter,wrapped well in plastic wrap or in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator.

Freezer Instructions:

I bake the bread in bulk because it's is a perfect bread to make ahead and freeze for later. Wrap the bread very well in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Or my preference is to use a food saver to freeze the bread.

The bread can be kept in the freezer for up to 4 months. Place in an airtight freezer safe bag. Defrost the bread, overnight in the refrigerator. Serve and enjoy.

💭 Expert Tips

Expert Tip: For a long time I made this in a 9" x 5" loaf pan. You can make it in either pan for delicious results. Bake at 375°F/190°C for about 40-45 minutes. Begin checking the loaf at 40 minutes to see if baked through. Use a toothpick to insert it into the loaf, it will come out clean when done.

  • When available use a course whole wheat flour such as Odlums to give an authentic Irish brown bread. However, it is not always easy to find in the US, stone ground or regular whole what can be used.
  • Be sure to use measuring cups and spoons to measure ingredients as baking is a science and being exact gives best results.
  • Have the butter at room temperature so it blends easily into the flour mix.
  • The bread can be made in either a 9" x 5" inch loaf pan or a 8" to 9" round pan.

📋 Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the bread is finished baking?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.
Also, if you give a tap on the bottom of the bread it will feel hollow.

Can I use intant oats to make the bread?

After so many readers wrote to me saying they used quick cooking oats, I tried it and it was delicious.
I prefer to use regular oats because that is what I keep in the house and it has always been my go to, however, quick cooking oats will work too.

Can I use a buttermilk subtitute?

When you do not have buttermilk available, you can use regular or low-fat milk and add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar for every cup of milk.
Let it rest on the counter for about 5 minutes to combine flavors before adding to your recipe.

📖 Variations

Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you increase the flavor of this dish.

Use half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour in the recipe.

A mix of light brown sugar and white granulated sugar can be used to make a deeper sweet flavor of the bread.

🥗 Serving Suggestions

  • It's also low in calories and fat. Enjoy the bread with some marmalade, jelly, and a cup of ginger tea
  • A great Irish Coffee is always a hit on a dessert table along with this bread.
  • Serve this alongside a big bowl of Irish Beef Stewfor a delicious dinner.
  • Bangers and Mash is a great meal to use a slice of this Brown Bread to sop up all the delicious gravy.
  • I've got a round-up of great recipes to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day recipes that celebrate so many wonderful choices.

🍽 Similar recipes

My family and friends famout Irish Soda Bread is a must make for all. Trust me, it has gotten so many 5 star reviews. I am so proud of this recipe and it tastes amazing.

Cranberry Orange Scones are another tasty quick bread recipe to enjoy.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

  1. In a large bowl, add dry ingredients.
  2. Add in softened, unsalted butter.
  3. Use either a pastry cutter or clean hands to blend the butter into the flour mixture.
  4. Once combined, the flour/butter mixture will look like sand. Make a well in the center of the ingredients.

5. Add buttermilk to whisked eggs.

6. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

7. Mix to combine ingredients.

8. The mixture will be well combined and stick together.

9. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface. Knead a few times to combine the ingredients and be able to form a round dough.

10. Form the dough a round, about 8 inches in diameter and about 1 ½ inches high. Use a sharp knife to slice a cross into the top of the dough. I continue this tradition with my brown bread as I do with my soda bread.

I also like a rustic look to my bread and sprinkle some all purpose flour on the top of the bread right before baking.

Let the bread cool in a wire rack for at least ½ hour, once it is cool, slice and enjoy.

I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.

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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.

Eileen xo

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Irish Brown Bread Recipe (8)

Irish Brown Bread

An authentic Irish Brown Bread. This bread is so quick and easy to prepare. This is a versatile bread that is wonderful in the morning with marmalade or jelly. Fantastic paired with a stew, soup, or a corned beef dinner. This bread freezes very well

4.50 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking, Bread, Breakfast/Snack

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: brown bread, Irish Brown Bread, Saint Patrick's Day Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

let cool before slicing: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 14 slices

Calories: 201kcal

Author: Eileen Kelly

Equipment Needed:

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F/191°C, spray a 9-inch round cast iron or pie dish.

  • In a large mixing bowl, add dry ingredients, whole wheat flour, oats, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

  • Cut in the butter and blend well into the flour.Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Set aside.

  • In another small bowl, whisk the eggs and add the buttermilk to combine.

  • Add the egg mixture into the well of the dry ingredients. Stir to combine the ingredients.

  • Gently roll out the dough onto a floured surface and knead the dough gently for a few minutes.

  • Shape into a round loaf and place in the cast iron skillet. Slash the top into the shape of a cross. Sprinkle top with a bit of flour.

  • Bake for 40-45 minutes. Check to see if the bread is done by placing a skewer into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, your bread is done. Let cool for about 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from the loaf pan and let the bread cool completely for at least ½ hour before slicing.

Notes

Be sure to check the Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.

Note 1: The whole wheat flour I prefer to use is Odlums, which is made in Ireland. However, using any whole wheat flour can be used for delicious results.

Note 2:After so many readers have said they used quick oats, I made a loaf of Irish Brown bread with quick oats and the results were delicious.

Note 3: I have changed the recipe over the years and now bake this bread in a round cast iron skillet. A 9-inch round pie baking dish can also be used.

Insert a toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.

Leftovers can be wrapped in plastic wrap and kept for about 3 days.

You can freeze Brown Bread. Use freezer-friendly storage bags for the bread. They can be frozen for up to 4 months.

The nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actualdietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2.7mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

Irish Brown Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Irish brown bread made of? ›

Traditional Irish brown bread is a simple combination of whole wheat and white flours, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk; this version adds a bit of enrichment in the form of sugar and butter (or oil) for a slightly sweeter, more tender loaf.

Why is my Irish brown bread crumbly? ›

Make sure you are using the correct amount of baking soda in the recipe. Too much or too little can result in a crumbly loaf. It's also possible that your oven wasn't hot enough when you baked the bread. Make sure to preheat your oven before baking Irish soda bread and don't open it frequently during the baking time.

What is the most popular bread in Ireland? ›

Most Irishmen and women eat Irish brown bread for breakfast or lunch. It's best served simple, with a pad of Kerrygold butter or used as a dunker with soup.

Why is brown bread so popular in Ireland? ›

In Ireland, brown bread is as common as a pint of Guinness. Most versions are made with Irish beer, too! The bread became popular many years ago due, in part, to the low cost of wheat flour. Back then, white flour was more expensive.

What are the ingredients in brown bread? ›

Brown bread is bread made with significant amounts of whole grain flours, usually wheat sometimes with corn and or rye flours. Brown breads often get their characteristic dark color from ingredients such as molasses or coffee.

What is healthiest bread to eat? ›

Some breads are more nutritious than others. To choose a beneficial bread, you can look for varieties made from 100% whole-grain and/or sprouted-grain flours. Make sure your bread is low in added sweeteners. A few good options include sourdough, rye, flax, and oat breads.

Why is my brown bread so heavy? ›

The reason why whole wheat loaves end up so dense is because whole wheat flour has very little gluten as compared to white all-purpose flour. Gluten is important for giving the dough – and final loaves – structure. Without it, loaves tend to end up flat and dense.

Why is my homemade bread so moist? ›

If the dough doesn't fill out with gas, perhaps because it hasn't had time to rise properly, the inside of the loaf will remain soggy and dense as the dough won't bake properly. You should therefore leave plenty of time for your dough to rise.

Why is my brown bread crust so hard? ›

Check the oven temperature to see that it matches the temperature set on the oven dial. Adjust the oven dial up or down to correct the oven temperature.

What is the healthiest bread in Ireland? ›

Bread typeFibre (g per 100g)Carbohydrates (g per 100 g)
Rye bread5.848
Buckwheat bread4.343
Spelt bread3.636
100% wholewheat bread6.756.4
2 more rows
Aug 4, 2020

What is the most delicious bread in the world? ›

World's best breads: the list of winners
  • Butter garlic naan (India)
  • Nan-e barbari (Iran)
  • Pan de yuca (Colombia)
  • Focaccia di Recco col formaggio (Italy)
  • Baguette (France)
  • Naan (India)
  • Piadina Romagnola (Italy)
  • Tarte flambée (France)
Oct 4, 2023

Do Irish people eat a lot of bread? ›

Soda, Wheaten, Potato...Bread!

If you think Irish people love potatoes, just wait until you introduce bread to the table! For whatever reason, us Irish love bread and, without boasting too much, we probably make some of the tastiest bread in the world.

Is soda bread the same as Irish brown bread? ›

If you really want to get technical, brown bread is a form of soda bread since it uses baking soda as the leavening agent. However, the two loaves differ pretty significantly from there. Irish brown bread has a deep, nutty flavor because of its wheat flour and wheat bran while soda bread uses only white flour.

Why is Irish food so good? ›

The cuisine is founded upon the crops and animals farmed in its temperate climate and the abundance of fresh fish and seafood from the surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Chowder, for example, is popular around the coasts.

What's in Irish breakfast? ›

All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink.

Is brown bread actually healthy? ›

Brown bread is usually a healthier alternative to regular white bread, but not every brown bread you eat has 100 percent whole wheat grains. Sometimes commercial and bulk production ends up adulterating the bread with non-whole grain or refined flour as a filler. So, always check the labels and packaging.

What is the difference between Irish bread and yeast bread? ›

It's called Irish Soda Bread because it's made with baking soda instead of yeast. Because of this, it's more dense than your everyday white sandwich bread. Hearty and rustic are the words that come to mind, and it tastes kind of nutty from the wholemeal flour.

What is a substitute for Irish wholemeal flour? ›

*If you don't have access to KA's whole meal Irish-style flour, you can substitute Whole wheat pastry flour. It will be finer, and the loaf a be a bit moister, but it is an adequate substitute.

Is Irish bread good for you? ›

Made with whole wheat flour, it fits the bill when it comes to healthy and wholesome. (Irish Soda Bread is typically made with white all-purpose flour and while it certainly is good, it's not quite as good for you as the whole grain bread.)

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