Spelt Irish Soda Bread

Prep: 10

Cook: 40

Total Time: 50

Yield: 12 slices

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Irish

Calories: 248kcal

Author: Jessica Gavin

Spelt soda bread is a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional wheat-based bread. Made with whole-grain spelt flour and leavened with baking soda, this bread is easy to make and has a hearty, nutty flavor.

Ingredients

▢ 4 cups (480 g) spelt flour
▢ ¼ cup (50 g) dark brown sugar, packed
▢ 2 teaspoons (9 g) baking soda
▢ 1 teaspoon (2 g) kosher salt
▢ ½ cup (80 g) raisins, roughly chopped
▢ ½ cup (45 g) walnuts, roughly chopped
▢ 1 cup (240 ml) greek yogurt, plain
▢ 1 cup (240 ml) stout beer

Special Equipment

Instructions

Preheat the Oven - Set the oven rack to the center position. Preheat to 400°F (204ºC). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Make the Dough - In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, raisins, and walnuts. Add the yogurt and beer. Stir until the dough comes together into a ball.
If the dough seems too wet, add a tablespoon more flour at a time. The dough should be slightly sticky but easy to shape.
Knead the Dough - Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead into a rough ball, about 1 to 2 minutes. Shape into a 12-inch long by 4-inch wide loaf, then transfer it to the baking sheet.
Bake the Bread - Sprinkle the loaf with some flour and use a sharp knife to make four diagonal scores across the surface. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped or the internal temperature reaches 180°F (82ºC).
Let it Cool - Allow the bread to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack, or serve warm.

Notes

Yogurt Substitute: Use buttermilk.
Spelt Flour Substitute: Use whole wheat, white whole wheat, all-purpose, gluten-free, or rye flour.
Brown Sugar Substitute: Use coconut or granulated sugar. Honey or maple syrup can also be substituted but should be mixed in with the beer and yogurt.
Beer Substitute: Use apple cider.
For Smaller Loaves: The dough can be shaped into 2 smaller loaves or individual rolls. The cook time will be shorter, so check the internal temp, it's ready when it hits 180°F (82ºC).
Mix of Raisin Types: For variety, I used half golden and half Thompson raisins.

Nutrition

Recipe Link