Irish Brown Bread

46 Ratings
  • 5 Rating Star 38
  • 4 Rating Star 6
  • 3 Rating Star 2
Read Reviews

This is a delicious brown bread closest to what we ate while in Ireland. It isn't Irish soda bread, which has a completely different taste and texture. We LOVE this recipe!

By Julie Taylor
+ 8
+ 7
prep:
20 mins
cook:
40 mins
total:
1 hr 30 mins
additional:
30 mins
Servings:
12
Max Servings:
12
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

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  • Lightly grease a baking sheet.

  • Mix all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

  • Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture forms fine crumbs.

  • Stir whole-wheat flour and quick-cooking oatmeal into the butter mixture.

  • Gently stir yogurt into the oatmeal mixture. If mixture is too dry to hold together, add 1 teaspoon milk at a time, just until dough holds together; it should not be sticky.

  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; knead gently about 5 times to form a ball.

  • Place the dough in the center of the prepared baking sheet; cut a large 'X' in the top of the loaf.

  • Bake in preheated oven until well browned, about 40 minutes; transfer to a rack to cool. Bread can be served warm or cold.

Tip

Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
150.41 calories; 5.82 g protein; 28.14 g carbohydrates; 2.09 g fat; 4.46 mg cholesterol; 267.03 mg sodium.Full Nutrition

Reviews (39)

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Most helpful positive review

FloridaMo
10/29/2013
Closest to true Irish Brown Bread that I've found yet the oatmeal really makes it perfect. I used greek yogurt and treacle (or molasses) instead of the white sugar for a little added depth of flavor. It took quite a bit more milk than called for to make a workable dough. If you slash the top deeply it will create four distinct squares of bread very handy for serving and slicing. If you don't slash it deeply it will need to cook longer at least 5 minutes or the center will still be gooey.
Helpful
(16)

Most helpful critical review

Scott Rudolph
09/14/2014
First time making this. The recipe was easy enough to follow but was not thrilled with the result. The bread seems to dry out very quickly and is a bit bland for taste. I followed the recipe as is however after reading some of the reviews may try it again with molasses instead of sugar to see if that livens it up any. I'm tempted to cut back on the oats if I made it again as well.
Helpful
(6)
46 Ratings
  • 5 Rating Star 38
  • 4 Rating Star 6
  • 3 Rating Star 2
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
FloridaMo
10/29/2013
Closest to true Irish Brown Bread that I've found yet the oatmeal really makes it perfect. I used greek yogurt and treacle (or molasses) instead of the white sugar for a little added depth of flavor. It took quite a bit more milk than called for to make a workable dough. If you slash the top deeply it will create four distinct squares of bread very handy for serving and slicing. If you don't slash it deeply it will need to cook longer at least 5 minutes or the center will still be gooey.
Helpful
(16)
JessIsBest
04/25/2012
Easy Healthy and Delicious!
Helpful
(13)
kittycondo
07/31/2012
Thanks Julaine for this great recipe. I was looking to recreate a great meal we had at an Irish pub in Savannah. I made this brown bread as the recipe is written except instead of shaping the dough into one round loaf I divided it into thirds and baked it in 3 mini loaf pans (3 1/4 " x 6"). I baked the mini-loaves for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. The crumb of this delicious bread is dense and even making for beautiful slices. I served it with the "Best Cream of Potato Soup" from this site and got raves from my husband.
Helpful
(11)
dndsmom
03/28/2012
This recipie is fabulous. The ingredient list is perfect I didn't change a thing. My two older neighbors (one German the other Irish) as well as my entire family really liked this quick hearty bread.
Helpful
(10)
Kristin Lee K-Lee Conklin
08/11/2012
So amazing! I just returned from Ireland and I promised my fiance I would find a recipe for the amazing brown bread we ate there. This was it! Made it and its gone already! Thank you for sharing
Helpful
(6)
Scott Rudolph
09/14/2014
First time making this. The recipe was easy enough to follow but was not thrilled with the result. The bread seems to dry out very quickly and is a bit bland for taste. I followed the recipe as is however after reading some of the reviews may try it again with molasses instead of sugar to see if that livens it up any. I'm tempted to cut back on the oats if I made it again as well.
Helpful
(6)
Karend
10/25/2013
Great recipe just like the brown bread we had in Ireland. I have to admit I did change the sugar to molasses. It just seemed more appropriate more like what they would have used long ago. Treacle (molasses) is popular sweetener over there. I usually have to use several teaspoons of milk too like the recipe says.
Helpful
(4)
RENEE32
04/09/2013
Love this bread! It is so easy to make and has wonderful flavor. I only had Greek yogurt so I increased the milk to about 2 Tbs to adjust for the thicker consistency. The recipe said to use a baking sheet but the bottom burned a little so I flipped the loaf over halfway through and will try a glass pan or baking stone next time.
Helpful
(3)
netzel
02/17/2013
I made the recipe as stated and it was not cooked all the way through. I read one reviewer who modified the recipe by dividing it into 3 mini loaves next time I will try that. The flavor of the bread is great and would definately try to make this recipe again with some modifications in the loaf size or baking time.
Helpful
(2)
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