Irish Brown Soda Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 1/4 cups buttermilk

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• 2 measure all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl, combining well and making sure that there are no lumps of brown sugar. pour in the buttermilk and stir with a wooden spoon just until a soft dough forms.
• 3 turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about a minute until the dough comes together. divide the dough in half, and press down on the top of each half to flatten. place the two loaves on a large ungreased baking sheet – preferably non-stick. sprinkle the tops of the loaves with a little bit of flour, and, using a sharp knife, mark the shape of a cross on the top of each loaf.
• 4 allow the two loaves to rest for at least 10 minutes before baking. bake on the middle-rack of the oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is toasty, brown, and crunchy.
• 5 cool on racks and serve with irish butter.