Cottage in the Sky
“Wow, you make your own soda bread?”
Bread making conjures fear of labor-intensive hours in a hot kitchen amongst rolling pins, piles of dirty dishes, and white, powdery flour coating everything.
An even worse fear: after all that work, the bread will be a flop.
“Well, you must use a bread maker, right?”
Nope. No bread maker here. I have a serious aversion to clutter and that means I own as few appliances as possible.
Good thing making soda bread is easy.
You can bake soda bread on anything: cookie sheet, loaf pan, or casserole dish to name a few. Whichever you choose, parchment paper makes the bread easier to cut and the cleanup less of a hassle.
Equipment
- Cookie sheet, loaf pan or casserole dish
- Parchment paper
- 2 large bowls
- 2 large forks
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Basting brush (optional)
- Spatula (optional)
- Wire cooling rack (optional)
Cook Time
- Prep time: 15 min
- Cook time: 40 min
- Ready in: 55 min
- Yields: 1 loaf of whole grain bread
Dry ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups whole grain spelt flour
- 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 3 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Liquid ingredients:
- 2 extra-large eggs
- 3 tablespoons butter, cut in
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Set your oven at 380ºF (or 355ºF in a convection oven).
- Line your baking dish with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Pour dry ingredients into the wet ingredients bowl and stir like the dickens.
- With bare, clean hands, squish/mix the butter between your thumb and forefinger.
- With bare, clean hands, form dough into a rough, straggly mess of a ball.
- Place bread dough onto the parchment paper and push into the edges of the dish. Otherwise, if the dough is on a baking sheet, leave it in a ball.
- Cut an X into the centre of the bread dough with your finger (or with a spatula if you prefer).
- Coat the bread dough with buttermilk using your fingertips (or with a brush if you prefer).
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Check to make sure the loaf isn’t too brown.
- Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Let the loaf sit out in its baking container on a cooling rack.
Savory and Sweet Options
You can add many different ingredients to your bread. Just mix throughout the dough before baking:
- White cheese, grated
- Caraway or pumpkin seeds
- Celery slices
- Sliced olives
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg
- Dried fruits
- Come up with your own tasty combination. I dare you to experiment!
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for formal and individualized diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed medical professional. Do not stop or alter your current course of treatment. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
THRIFTY ♥ ENVIRONMENTAL ♥ HEALTHY