Battle of the Breads || Irish Soda Bread vs. Brown Bread

Baking bread is one of those things that just brings delight to my heart. There's nothing like working the flour in the bowl and kneading the dough and seeing a loaf of bread form before my very eyes. Then, as it bakes in the oven, the entire house begins to smell warm and cozy...truly heavenly. I have several sorts of bread that I enjoy making...some regularly and others on special occasions. There are also a number of breads that I want to try my hand at. I would love to grow my skills in the art of bread making...for it truly is an art all its own.

Two of my family's favorite breads are Irish breads...soda bread and brown bread. Having been to Ireland twice *so far*, we have tasted the goodness of fresh Irish bread firsthand in the land where they make it best. However, I do enjoy trying to recreate the magical experience at home, and thankfully, I have found two excellent recipes. I shared our favorite brown bread recipe a couple years ago, and today I am so excited to share with your our favorite soda bread recipe. 

We love having these breads with soup or stew in the cold weather months. There's nothing better than a bowl of steaming soup and a slice of homemade bread on a cold, grey winter's eve. Then during the rest of the year, we just enjoy having these breads for a snack...they're both best slathered in luscious Irish butter and fruit preserves.

When asked which of these Irish breads they prefer, my family couldn't pick...they're equally delicious and lovely in their own ways.

Laughter is brightest in the place where food is.

-Irish Proverb-

Irish Soda Bread...so simple yet so delicious. There's no other way to describe this wonderful recipe. 

I've tried a couple different recipes for this kind of bread and this one was our favorite. There's nothing like the scent of fresh-baked, homemade bread and this one will not disappoint. There's no yeast or rising involved, which makes it super easy to pull together. The baking soda and buttermilk do all the work necessary to allow this bread to rise, and boy does it! Cutting the cross in the top also helps with this. (After it's been in the oven a bit, sneak a peek and you'll see what I'm talking about!)

This recipe comes from a favorite Irish recipe book of mine.

So, no more waiting, let's get to the recipe...

Fresh Irish Soda Bread

3 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in most of the buttermilk. Mix together with your hands. The dough should be soft but not too wet. If needed, add more buttermilk, a little at a time.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead it lightly. Shape into an 8-inch circle, and place on a prepared baking sheet tray. Cut a cross into the top with a sharp knife. 

Bake at 425 for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.

For our favorite brown bread recipe and the story of choosing the perfect ingredients,

please visit this post HERE.

And you tell me:

In the battle of the breads, which do you prefer?

Soda bread

OR 

Brown bread?

Happy baking!