Traditional Irish Brown Bread Recipe – How to Make Irish Brown Bread

.mv-create-jtr-wrapper{margin-bottom:20px}a.mv-create-jtr-link{display:inline-block;padding:10px 10px 10px 0;color:#333;font-size:16px;text-decoration:none!important;-webkit-transition:color .5s;transition:color .5s}a.mv-create-jtr-link:hover,a.mv-create-jtr-link:focus{color:#666}.mv-create-jtr-link .mv-create-jtr-caret{margin-right:5px;padding-top:6px;fill:#333}.mv-create-jtr-link:hover .mv-create-jtr-caret,.mv-create-jtr-link:focus .mv-create-jtr-caret{fill:#666}.mv-create-jtr-button-uppercase{text-transform:uppercase}

I remember my first fresh brown bread in Ireland, during our first trip to see family back in 1999. Now, over 20+ years later we live in Ireland. This traditional Irish brown bread recipe is on a constant rotation in our home in Limerick. I learned how to make Irish brown bread during a cooking class in Dingle years ago and am so glad I did. I love this quick bread recipe – no yeast required. It’s warm and ready in a little more than an hour. 

*This post contains compensated links. Find more info in my DISCLAIMER. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Recommended kitchen products used in this recipe:

What Is Irish Brown Bread

There are two primary types of Irish bread that people are familiar with: Irish soda bread and Irish brown bread. Traditional Irish brown bread is the darker, more dense sister of the famous Irish soda bread. Although Irish soda bread can be made with brown flour as well, this brown bread is a little more hearty than soda bread. 

Irish brown bread is heavy and dense, more so than Irish soda bread. Irish soda bread is a white bread. Both taste great with warm Irish butter. They are both staples of the Irish diet, even today.

Both of these traditional Irish breads are considered “quick breads.” One of the benefits of Irish brown bread is that it doesn’t require yeast. That means there is no need to wait for it to rise. You can mix the brown bread dough and put it in the oven.

See our Guide To Traditional Irish Cuisine – What To Eat In Ireland

Ingredients for Irish Brown Bread Recipe With Buttermilk

This bread includes many of the traditional baking ingredients, including plain white flour, a bit of salt and sugar, and baking soda. In addition, it calls for wholemeal flour. This is what makes it more brown than soda bread. I also make my Irish brown bread with oats. The oats give a nice texture and also adds a good amount of fiber to the bread. 

The only wet ingredient is buttermilk – no eggs required. I love baking without eggs because it means that I can bake at home even when we’ve run out of eggs. 

Looking for more Irish recipes? Check out our collection of the Best Traditional Irish Dessert Recipes You Can Make At Home.

How To Make Irish Brown Bread

This is what makes this recipe for Irish brown bread so easy to make. Blend all of the dry ingredients. Mix in the buttermilk a bit at a time. Form it into a ball and bake. So darn easy. Add enough buttermilk so that the dough has the consistency of thick porridge, but is not too wet. See the photo above.

I use my stainless steel bakeware from 360, which is super-high quality. For this bread, I use the pie pan from the bakeware set. You can also use a cookie sheet or sheet pan. The bread won’t expand a ton after baking. I place the dough on parchment paper just to make it super-easy to clean up.

Baking a lot at home? Check out our reviews of Best Bakeware Sets.

Baking  Irish Brown Bread

Once the dough is ready, form it into a large round loaf and place it on a baking sheet or baking tin lined with parchment paper and a bit of flour. I cut a cross in the top of the bread with a knife to add some texture. That’s it. 

Cooking the bread for the first 10 minutes at a high heat allows a crust to form. This crust is characteristic of Irish brown bread. By turning the heat down, it allows time for the inside of the loaf to fully bake without browning the crust too much. Allow the bread to cook another 40-45 minutes. 

At the end of the 50-55 minutes, remove the bread and check if it is ready. If it feels dense and heavy, it probably needs a little more time. If you turn it over and knock your knuckles on the bottom and it sounds a bit hollow, the bread is ready. Or, slide a knife into the bottom of the bread. If the knife comes out clean, the bread is ready.

I sometimes leave the bread in the oven for an additional five minutes but I turn the heat off to the oven. This gives it a few minutes of extra baking without overdoing it. 

Allow the bread to cool and set for about 30 minutes before serving. 

Serving And Storing Homemade Irish Brown Bread

Slice and serve the brown bread with creamy Irish butter, like Kerrygold, which you can buy in the US. The bread is good with jam or preserves, but also goes well with a good Irish fry, or even with bacon and eggs.

Best Bakeware For Irish Bread Recipes

For over 50 years, 360 Cookware has been making high-quality cookware and bakeware in the USA. Using high-quality surgical grade stainless steel, 360 Cookware definitely feels like professional bakeware. Designed to last a lifetime, 360 includes a lifetime warranty on all their products.

Each piece incorporates a layer of aluminum to thoroughly and evenly distribute heat. The outer layer of stainless steel is thicker than other brands ensuring greater durability.

The 360 Cookware 5-piece Bakeware Set includes two 9 inch round cake pans, 10-inch pie pan, 17.5 x 14.5-inch cookie sheet, and 9 x 13-inch roasting pan. All pieces are oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Recognized by the EPA, 360 manufactures its products in a process that includes no harsh chemicals. Free recipes and cooking tips are available on the 360 Cookware website. 

Buy 360 Cookware direct from the manufacturer and save 10% with the code WELCOME10

FAQs – Traditional Irish Brown Bread