Not Dry-rish Soda Bread
Funny that it’s called Irish Soda Bread: there’s more baking powder in there than there is baking soda.
I’d also say it’s moist, but we’ve already had a discussion in the past about the fact it’s quite a loathsome word, indeed. (Dead Like Me, anyone?)
So let’s just say: it’s not dry. And it’s not traditional in any way. So it’s more of a simple whole wheat savory loaf.
Adapted from food mayhem who adapted it from all recipes, because I try to avoid using white flour and white sugar.
Among a few other changes, I also kept the raisins out for more flexible uses.
Easy to make and delicious to boot, definitely a keeper for the times when you don’t have the patience to build a yeast bread from the ground up. So to speak.
Keep in mind I am now weighing ingredients, rather than using measuring cups. Good scales like the one I have (in green) are rather affordable, if you’re considering making the switch too.
Simple Whole Wheat Savory Loaf Non-stick cooking spray
1/4 cup (56 g) nondairy butter, melted and cooled
1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
2 cups (470 ml) unsweetened or plain soymilk
3 cups (360 g) whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon (12 g) baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons (24 g) raw sugar
3 tablespoons (46 g) unsweetened applesauceLightly coat an 9 x 5-inch (23 x 13-cm) loaf pan with spray.
Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Set aside to cool.
Combine vinegar and soymilk in a medium bowl: it will curdle and become like buttermilk.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in sugar.
Whisk melted butter and applesauce into buttermilk mixture.
Fold wet ingredients into dry, being careful not to over mix.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Let stand 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325°F (170°C, or gas mark 3).
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from pan, let cool on a wire rack before slicing.Yield: one 9-inch (23-cm) loaf
Mihl said,
March 11, 2009 at 3:47 am
I never made soda bread! This sounds so easy and delicious.
Reply
VeggieGirl said,
March 11, 2009 at 3:49 am
Looks great!! Perfect for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday :-)
Reply
Rosa said,
March 11, 2009 at 3:57 am
This fluffy soda bread looks delicious! The applesauce must contribute to it’s moistness…
Cheers,
Rosa
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 5:08 am
ewwwwwwwwwwww! ha.
Reply
Shelby said,
March 11, 2009 at 4:19 am
I’m totally making this for St. Patrick’s Day! It’s perfect!
PS. I totally hate the m word too. It makes me cringe!
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 5:08 am
and doesn’t it seem that the more you hate a word, the more often you hear it spoken?
Reply
The voracious Vegan said,
March 11, 2009 at 4:27 am
Looks delicious and sounds so simple! Great picture too.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 5:07 am
I love simple. but I’m not digging the pics lately. blah.
Reply
Ricki said,
March 11, 2009 at 4:35 am
You are so punny! Love the title. And my HH got me hooked on Dead Like Me, too–who knew death could be funny?
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I hear the movie that came out (without making a sound) was pretty crappy though, unfortunately.
Reply
Happy Vegan Lady said,
March 11, 2009 at 4:43 am
Thank you for using grams rather than cups! I’m from the UK and much prefer to weigh my ingredients (in grams or ounces, depending on the book the recipe is from). Although I’ve managed so far (by using a Tala for dry ingredients and a measuring jug for wet ingredients, or through conversions) it’s nice to not have to go through that hassle! And this bread looks delicious – I’m thinking of surprising my friends with some on Tuesday.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I hope it works out well for you too! I love the fact that weighing ingredients = less dishes to clean. because I’m a lazy butt like that.
Reply
Mara @ What's For Dinner? said,
March 11, 2009 at 4:46 am
I absolutely love soda bread, and this recipe looks awesome!
Reply
Sal said,
March 11, 2009 at 5:07 am
Looks great. I love soda bread too and it’s so much easier and quicker than yeast dough!
Reply
Tami (Vegan Appetite) said,
March 11, 2009 at 6:00 am
I just made soda bread, too! I went the more traditional route.
Hey, I read that if you add fruit to your soda bread, it’s then called Spotted Dog. Makes me want to make it again just for that!
Looks wonderful, Celine!
Reply
Jackie said,
March 11, 2009 at 6:02 am
This looks great! My ancestry is 75% irish and yet, I’ve never made soda bread. Shame on me. I started using a scale too. Don’t you love being able to just put the bowl on there and dump the ingredients in, instead of having to scoop and level (not to mention trying to find a clean measuring cup that’s the right size)? Alright, maybe I’m just lazy.
Reply
Carrie said,
March 11, 2009 at 6:03 am
Yum! I’ve only had soda bread once and I wasn’t impressed, but your’s looks so much better!
Reply
laci said,
March 11, 2009 at 6:27 am
FANTASTIC bread, looks so fresh, nutritous but fluffy and authentic! :D
Reply
Kiersten said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:16 am
this sounds SO much better than all the traditional (and uber dry) soda breads i have tried before. i like that you used whole wheat flour instead of white.
Reply
Ani said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:30 am
When I was living in Spain and was taught how to bake certain things using the scale, I wondered what in the hell all of us with measuring cups were thinking. So I’ve been slowly but surely converting all of my recipes into metric. Goodbye trying-to-fill-measuring-cups-of-water-with-the-right-amount-of-margarine-to-find-out-that-you’ve-accidentally-used-hot-water-and-melted-half-of-it!
On the other hand, I have measuring cups that are shaped like geese and I want to trot them out at every possible opportunity because they’re so freakin’ adorable. Life is hard, isn’t it?
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
geese-shaped measuring cups? okay, that would sway me back, too.
Reply
Shellyfish said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:31 am
J’ai trop hâte d’essayer ton super soda bread! I’m with Ricki, you’re a punny bunny! Quand est-ce que tu viens me voir?? Bisous!
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
demain. j’arrive!
Reply
Veronica said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:39 am
That looks delicious. I try to bake my own bread instead of going the store-bought route… but since I’m often too lazy/impatient to do so that usually just means I go a lot of the time without loaves of bread. Will give this a try, then!
(Also – Dead Like Me? Fanfreakingtastic. I loved that show.)
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I’m not daring giving the newly released movie a go, since even hardcore fans gave it a thumbs way up rating.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
or, you know, down.
Reply
natalie said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:49 am
Thanks! About 3 years ago I was travelling in Ireland and I couldn’t find any vegan food at all so I just ate soda bread (which traditionally has milk in it) for a week. Now I’m inspired to make it!
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
you must have been all sodaed out upon your return. but yay, a trip to Ireland is probably worth the pain of it.
Reply
Tahinitoo said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:51 am
The “m” word gives me the shudders and shakes. Your bread recipes give me pure glee. So there.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
want some jam with your glee?
Reply
Jodye said,
March 11, 2009 at 8:38 am
Looks delicious as always! Care to send me some!?
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
afraid it wouldn’t make it there quite as moi… not dry.
Reply
Cookie said,
March 11, 2009 at 8:48 am
yum looks delicious! do you think whole wheat pastry flour would work?
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
definitely. there’s nothing ww pastry flour can’t do.
Reply
Jes said,
March 11, 2009 at 9:42 am
I’d been thinking about making soda bread for awhile but have been too lazy to rework a recipe to my taste. I’ll have to try this one out!
Reply
A&N said,
March 11, 2009 at 10:17 am
Wow the bread looks fantastic! I am trying to bake without eggs so I came across your site through some blog hopping :) I enjoyed reading your posts and the recipes :)
Reply
Sanja said,
March 11, 2009 at 11:14 am
Can I just say yay for weighing ingredients? Cups etc are so… not precise, and my OCD self has a hard time dealing with that. ;-)
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
and cleaning up’s a breeze! wow. I sound like a commercial.
Reply
DJ Karma (VegSpinz) said,
March 11, 2009 at 11:43 am
Great! I’ve been trying to use less ap flour too, and just bought some whole wheat white flour. This looks yummy!
Reply
Bianca- Vegan Crunk said,
March 11, 2009 at 11:56 am
This is perfect for St. Patty’s Day. I’m planning a few Irish foods to celebrate before I go out and get plastered that night. I’ll add this to my list!
Reply
Bianca- Vegan Crunk said,
March 11, 2009 at 11:56 am
BTW, when you say whole wheat flour, you mean like the hardcore kind, right? Not pastry flour?
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
totally. I was surprised with the results for that very reason.
Reply
anthony said,
March 11, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hey, your blog is amazing! I have been getting into Irish soda bread lately, as well as seitan corned beef and cabbage, and lots of potatoes to celebrate Irish culture for St Patrick’s day. I have to work on making my own version soon. I read an article recently about traditional Irish soda bread and it is supposed to be dry and crumbly. Not sweet and moist. But i prefer a version similar to yours. Whole grains are a must as well.
P.s. thanks for being awesome.
Reply
River (Wing-it Vegan) said,
March 11, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Ah, the “M” word. When you become president of the world, you must promise to banish that word from the English language. Along with “corns”. Why must a foot problem share a name with a food?
Anyway, thanks for the recipe and the scales tip! Fewer dishes to wash are always a plus!
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
and why does “bunion” have to rhyme with “onion”?
Reply
River (Wing-it Vegan) Reply:
March 12th, 2009 at 3:51 am
Thanks, Celine! :)
Oh man, bunion is the worst word ever! Worse than moist and corns! There is a restaurant somewhere in Wisconsin called “Paul Bunyan” something or another. Ewww!! That is the last place you will catch me eating.
Reply
kickpleat said,
March 11, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I totally have to try my hand at making soda bread this year…though I think I might keep in the raisins. Yum.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 11th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I love me some raisins, too.
Reply
Elyse said,
March 11, 2009 at 9:26 pm
What a great sounding recipe. It sounds totally not-dry! You’ve reminded me that I really need to invest in a kitchen scale. It’s so much better than those darn measuring cups!
Reply
Vegetation said,
March 11, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Oh Celine! YUM! I thinks I have to be making some of this this weekend (thankfully tomorrow is already Friday so I won’t have to be waiting long!) And finally! I can use my kitchen scales I got not long ago (and hopefully not end in disaster due to being kind of heavy handed when measuring flour in cups!)
Reply
Philippa O said,
March 12, 2009 at 3:38 am
I love dead like me! so sad it got axed
Reply
Avery said,
March 12, 2009 at 5:45 am
I really want to make this recipe for my gluten-free friend. What would be the best way to adapt it? Thanks!
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am
do you have access to guaranteed gluten-free oats? if not, I’d recommend for another, tried and true gf recipe instead.
Reply
allularpunk said,
March 12, 2009 at 7:49 am
i was just talking about making soda bread 2 days ago. you must have been reading my mind. neato. what am i thinking….rightnow!?
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 12th, 2009 at 8:39 am
don’t tell me, don’t tell me…you need to go to the barfroom?
Reply
Cakespy said,
March 12, 2009 at 10:18 am
Awesome–I love how you’ve offered solutions to keep it moist. That’s my biggest complaint about Irish Soda bread, that it dries out so fast! Awesome.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 12th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
the original Irish bread scrapes at the throat when it goes down, I feel.
that came out…wrong?
Reply
Jennifer said,
March 12, 2009 at 10:20 am
That looks really easy to make! Thanks Celine!
Reply
Sara said,
March 12, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Hey Celine,
Thanks for the encouraging comment on my blog! Appreciate it! I also appreciate your delicious recipes, keep that hot oven pumping out yummy stuff please!
thanks,
sara
Reply
marie said,
March 13, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Celine- I gave you an award. http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2009/03/award.html :-) Marie
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
merci Marie!
Reply
Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said,
March 13, 2009 at 5:21 pm
thanks for the scale recommendation! I just put it on my wishlist. I’ve suspected mine of being unreliable for a while, it just seems cheezy somehow. And no vegan wants a cheezy scale.
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 13th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
depends on the cheeze! mmm…nooch.
Reply
meghan said,
March 14, 2009 at 11:00 am
i have been so busy that i haven’t had any time to blog or read other people’s blogs.
i forgot how much i love to read your posts.
as usual, you are amazing.
cheers,
meghan
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 14th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I miss you, Meghan!
Reply
melody polakow said,
March 15, 2009 at 7:44 am
Wow.. that looks like the best soda bread I’ve seen! hehe.. I almost said the wettest soda bread!
Reply
Kris said,
March 15, 2009 at 9:09 am
Oh, that bread looks delicious! Perfect for breakfast this morning…
Reply
Nick said,
March 16, 2009 at 7:46 am
Excellent recipe, I was on the hunt for a whole grain soda bread to try since I’ve never had it before. I may try it with raisins but I think that might weigh it down too much…
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
yeah I’m not convinced about adding raisins either. I think I’ll just use them in cookies instead. ;)
Reply
Julie Hasson said,
March 16, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Yum!
Thanks for visiting my blog Celine. I love the new book cover (saw it on Joni’s site). I can’t wait for it’s release!
Julie
Reply
Afsoon said,
March 16, 2009 at 5:31 pm
May I say how cute your blog is? <3
Absolutely love it! And I will try the recipe :0)
Reply
Celine Reply:
March 16th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
thanks, Afsoon.
Reply
Debbie said,
March 26, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Looks delish, although I live in Northern Ireland and we call that wheaten bread! Soda bread is white and made on a griddle. Or at least what I know as soda bread anyway.
Great blog! :)
Reply
St. Paddy’s Day Meal - C’est La Vegan said,
May 10, 2009 at 7:43 am
[...] Day but for some reason I felt like doing it this year. I made the Irish soda bread recipe from Have Cake Will Travel. It was super easy and very tasty, especially slathered with Earth Balance. And like promised, [...]