Hearty Irish Soda Bread
This hearty, vegan version of soda bread is so easy! “Breaking bread” with friends and family is a great tradition, especially when it tastes so good!
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 1large loaf | 15minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 40minutes |
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Ingredients
- 2cups unbleached flour
- 1 1/2cups spelt flour
- 1/2cup oatmeal
- 3Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2teaspoons salt
- 1teaspoon baking soda
- 1teaspoon baking powder
- 4Tablespoons Earth Balance or other vegan butter, melted
- 2 flax “eggs”
- 1 1/2cups plant milk
- 1/4cup Guiness beer
- 2Tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
- 2Tablespoons melted vegan butter– to brush on
Instructions
- Line a cast iron frying pan with parchment paper.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Make your flax “eggs” by combining 2 Tablespoons of ground flax and 6 Tablespoons of warm water. Let sit for a few minutes.
- Stir together the flours, oatmeal, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
- Using your fingers, blend in the butter to make a crumbly mixture.
- Combine the “eggs”, milk, Guiness, and lemon juice or vinegar and stir together,
- Add the liquids to the dry and mix until just combined. You don’t want to overwork this dough. The dough should be quite soft and “shaggy”, more like a biscuit dough than a yeast bread. Add more flour as needed.
- Gently knead the bread dough a few times to create a round form and then put it in the prepared pan. Sprinkle with some oatmeal for great texture and goodness.
- Make an X on the top, about an inch deep, to assist in even cooking.
- Brush with the melted butter and place in the center of your heated oven.
- Bake at 375 degrees for about 35-40 minutes, or until it is cooked through. You can check with a skewer.
- Remove and let stay in pan for a few minutes then cool on a rack. (This prevents the bottom getting soggy.)
- This bread is best when warm or at room temperature on the same day. It freezes well and makes wonderful toast! Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Enjoy it fresh or toasted the next day with marmalade or with a savoury spread. Try a delicious Roasted Garlic and Sun-dried Tomato Spread.
