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Home » Recipes » Bread

Published: Feb 21, 2018 · Modified: Mar 31, 2020 by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

Irish Brown Bread

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No meal in Ireland is complete without a loaf of Irish Brown Bread on the table! This no knead, no yeast Irish Brown Bread recipe is hearty, with a wheaty sweetness that just needs a slather of good Irish butter!

Loaf of irish brown bread on a cooling rack

 

While traveling in Ireland, we ate numerous pieces of Irish Brown Bread and I quickly fell in love with the chewy crumb and whole grain flavor and was determined to add it to my collection of quick breads!

So, what is Irish Brown Bread?

It's the whole wheat or wholemeal version of Irish Soda Bread.  Served at breakfast, lunch or as a side at dinner, Irish Brown Bread is a staple of Irish cuisine. The loaves I tried in Ireland all had this wonderful chewy texture. Once home I tried several versions, but none had that chewy texture I loved.

But I didn't give up! After doing a little research, I discovered that wheat flour in the U.S. is more finely ground, which gives this Irish Brown Bread a more cake-like texture. After experimenting a bit,  I came up with this Irish Brown Bread recipe that is not exactly like the ones I had in Ireland, but very close!!!

How to make this Irish Brown Bread Recipe:

Step 1: In a large bowl combine the flours, oatmeal, wheat germ,  baking soda and salt...bowl of flours used in irish brown bread

Step 2: Rub in the butter and then pour in the buttermilk...

pouring buttermilk into flours for irish brown bread

 

Step 3: Mix well with a wooden spoon and dump the dough onto a parchment lined sheet pan...

irish brown bread dough on parchment ready to bakeStep 4: Give it a few pats to round it out and then put it in the oven....

Step 5: Cool and slice....

sliced loaf of irish brown bread on a cooling rack.

Step 6: And then slather with butter...

sliced irish brown bread with butter on a plate.

Want to try some other quick breads? Check out my

  • Guinness Bread
  •  Quick Cheese and Herb Bread!
  • Yogurt Flatbreads
  • Browned Butter CornBread

📖Recipe

Irish Brown Bread Recipe

No meal in Ireland is complete without a loaf of Irish Brown Bread on the table! This no knead, no yeast Irish Brown Bread recipe is hearty, with a wheaty sweetness that just needs a slather of good Irish butter!
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Course: breads
Cuisine: Irish
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 238kcal
Author: Nancy Buchanan

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 Wooden spoon
  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cooling rack
  • parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup toasted wheat germ
  • ¼ cup old-fashioned oats
  • 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into ¼ inch pieces
  • 2 cups buttermilk

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 
  • In a large bowl combine the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, wheat germ, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until evenly mixed.
  • Scatter the butter pieces over the dry ingredients and rub into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles wet sand.
  • Add the buttermilk and stir with a large wooden spoon until the ingredients are combined into a sticky dough. Do not overmix. 
  • Scoop the dough out onto the parchment-lined sheet pan and with wet hands pat the dough to make a round loaf. The dough will be sticky! 
  • Place the pan in a preheated oven and bake the loaf for 30 - to 40 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. 
  • Remove the Irish bread from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Let cool and then slice with a sharp knife. Serve

Recipe Notes

How long can you store this Traditional Irish Brown Bread?
You can store this bread at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Make sure the bread is well wrapped and store out of the sun. If the bread is a little stale, try toasting it. The flavor will still be delicious.
Can you freeze homemade bread?
This bread is easy to freeze. You can either freeze slices or the whole loaf. Make sure the bread is well wrapped. I wrap my in plastic wrap and either place it in a zip loc bag (making sure to squeeze out the air) or wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
How do I know when the bread is done baking?
The first test is to insert a cake tester into the center of the bread loaf. It should be dry with small crumbs attached to it. If you are unsure, remove the bread with oven mitts and turn it over. Tap the bottom - it should sound hollow if the loaf is fully baked.
Why didn't my loaf fully bake in the middle?
There could be several reasons. Baking bread involves some science - so correctly measuring the ingredients is really important. The other reason could be that the oven temperature isn't accurate. To check your oven's temperature, use an oven thermometer to see if your oven is actually at the temperature you set it at!
 
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 223mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2.2mg
YOU KNOW I WANT TO SEE IT!Mention @Acommunaltable or tag #acommunaltable!

More 6 Fabulous No Knead Bread Recipes

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    Van de Kamp's Date Nut Bread
  • This Irish Guinness Beer Bread recipe is tender, moist and incredibly easy! A little sweet and malty it's the perfect partner to irish stew!
    Irish Guinness Beer Bread

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lisaiscooking says

    March 14, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    I've been to Ireland once, and I need to go back! Your bread looks great, and I love Kerrygold butter. I also really like Irish cashel blue cheese with brown bread. Happy St. Patrick's Day, early!

    Reply
  2. Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    I've tried and tried ad tried to make bread like this. To no avail. So my hat is off to you. Looks unbelievably good!

    Reply
  3. Priscilla - She's Cookin' says

    March 14, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    We loved Ireland, too! It's so amazing to visit the country of your heritage 🙂 Your brown bread looks every bit as delicious as the Irish staple - I've posted soda bread that I've made, but I'm definitely going to try your recipe for brown. Happy St. Patrick's Day, Nancy!

    Reply
  4. Lana says

    March 15, 2011 at 2:50 am

    I think that my daughter will beat me and visit Ireland before me:) I have not made Irish bread yet, but I know what you mean when you mention the difference in the coarseness of the flour. Whole Wheat flour in Serbia, where I grew up, is not as fine as here and the bread definitely has more bite.
    This would be perfect for all of us who are not Irish to tip our hats off to St. Patrick's Day!

    Reply
  5. paul jennette says

    March 15, 2011 at 4:35 am

    My wife and I enjoyed only a couple of days in Ireland, what a beautiful country! You are right about the brown bread being a staple, I don't remember having a meal without it there. ~ Paul

    Reply
  6. Magic of Spice says

    March 15, 2011 at 7:59 am

    I have never actually had this bread before but it looks amazing. Great photos!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 16, 2011 at 6:51 pm

      Thanks!! It is a great everyday kind of bread and is great with soups and salad - not to mention some good Irish cheese or butter!!

      Reply
  7. Lucy Lean says

    March 15, 2011 at 9:02 am

    love Ireland - can't wait to try your bread

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 16, 2011 at 6:50 pm

      Me too Lucy - I cannot wait to go back!!!

      Reply
  8. Barbara | VinoLuciStyle says

    March 15, 2011 at 10:47 am

    My grandfather was Irish and though I've never been to Ireland I still love the rich history and yes, find their simple foods something I really enjoy. Bangers and Mash and some Brown Bread...yeah, I'm good!

    Lovely photos my friend.

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 16, 2011 at 6:50 pm

      Hi Barb,

      You need to plan a trip to Ireland - it is such a beautiful country!! We visited the area (Killaloe and Ballina in County Clare) which is where my family is from - it was so wonderful to see where my family came from!! I agree - the simple Irish food we had was delicious!!! Glad you liked the photos - this was the first trip that I took my Dslr on and I had a great time snapping photos!!

      Reply
  9. Allison [Haute Box] says

    March 15, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    This looks really tasty!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 16, 2011 at 6:45 pm

      Hi Allison!!

      It is pretty tasty - especially with some good Irish butter spread on it!!

      Reply
  10. Mary Ann says

    March 15, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    I have always wanted to go to Ireland...especially growing up in a big Catholic family with Irish priests and nuns always over for dinner. Last weekend, I was in NYC and bought my daughter some Irish soda bread at Mario Batalia's "Eataly". She thought it was cake. Not exactly right. Need to try your recipe.

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 16, 2011 at 6:45 pm

      Hi Mary Ann,

      This isn't the "traditional" soda bread since most people are accustomed to ones made with all white flour. This one is a little different and isn't as sweet as some soda breads!!

      Reply
  11. Lentil Breakdown says

    March 17, 2011 at 12:31 am

    Ireland is on my list! I've always loved traditional Irish music. Am not too sure what the food is like, but if it's like your bread, sign me up!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 21, 2011 at 9:09 pm

      Hi Adair!!

      As a vegetarian, you'd do fine in Ireland - lots of good bread and soups as well - not to mention plenty of good Guinness!! Ah, the music - I can't get enough of it and I can't wait to go back!!

      Reply
  12. susan says

    March 18, 2011 at 8:32 am

    I have never made Irish Soda Bread, but now I want to! I love your recipe with all the healthful ingredients. The problem is, I will more than likely eat the whole loaf, with a stick of butter and not feel the slightest bit guilty. Nothing a little extra walking time couldn't cure!!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 19, 2011 at 5:12 pm

      I have the exact same problem!!! Give me good bread and butter and I am a happy camper!!

      Reply
  13. Mary says

    March 21, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    Thank you so much for the link to my blog. It really is appreciated. This was my first visit to your site and while I was here I decided to browse through your earlier entries. I'm so glad I did that. I really like the food and recipes you feature here. I'll definitely be back. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 21, 2011 at 9:04 pm

      Hi Mary!!
      You are so welcome for the link - always love to share wonderful posts with my readers!!! So glad that you like the blog!!!

      Reply
  14. Kim says

    March 23, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    Beautiful photos!

    I've had my share of Irish Soda Bread recently... from the samples they're giving out at the local Henry's. Three weekends in a row now, we've had samples that have come straight out of the oven. Served WARM with a pat of Kerrigold Irish butter! Melt in your mouth good. Bet your brown bread is just as lovely.

    [K]

    Reply
  15. Laura says

    March 18, 2015 at 6:57 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night (St. Patty's Day 2015). It was delicious, but I did need to add more flour. Thanks for the recipe. (And just a comment, it would be nice to pin it to my Pinterest page if there were a picture of the bread.)

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      March 18, 2015 at 11:24 am

      Hi Laura - I am so glad that you liked the bread! Thanks too for the info on needing more flour - making a note to re test the recipe! Thanks too for the "heads up" about the photo - when I switched blog platforms not all of my photos transferred over so, I am slowly adding them back and added the one for the bread!

      Reply
    • Yvonne Treacy says

      February 02, 2018 at 3:14 pm

      It's Paddy's Day! Sorry, I'm Irish so couldn't let this one go!!

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        February 06, 2018 at 5:45 pm

        No need to be sorry - from one Irish lass to another!!!

        Reply
  16. Margaret says

    March 16, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    5 stars
    I made this last night...I felt like I was back in Ireland! Thanks so much for this great, easy, recipe! When I returned from Ireland last summer, I tried many recipes and this is it!!

    Reply
  17. Yvonne Treacy says

    February 02, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this bread and it came out great. All the better with Kerrygold and honey! I'm Irish so a tough critic!
    I substituted the wholemeal flour for dark rye flour and toasted wheat germ for the non toasted variety. I think I should have experimented with one cup of buttermilk first and added to it as the mix was very sticky and I had to add a little more flour as I pulled it together but probably due to the flour being finer. I will also try it with some pumpkin seeds next time but this is a great base to work from. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      February 06, 2018 at 5:46 pm

      Great analysis and I may have to try those substitutions as well!! Thanks so much for stopping by the Table!!

      Reply
  18. Cathy A says

    February 25, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    Tis the season for breadmaking and this looks delicious.

    Reply
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