Easy soda bread

This is the perfect bread if you're a first time baker – no yeast, no kneading. Spread it with anything you fancy, or serve with a cheeseboard.

Credit: Mary Makes It Easy

• serves

  4

• prep

  10 minutes

• cook

  55 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 2 cups (270 g) flour
• 2–2½ cups (270-305 g) spelt or whole wheat flour
• 3 tsp (12 g) baking powder
• 1 tsp (4 g) baking soda (bicarbonate soda)
• 1 tsp (4 g) kosher salt
• 1¾–2 cups (440-500 ml) buttermilk, plus more for brushing
• 1½ tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1½ tbsp (37 g) honey
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, or oats, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together the flour, whole wheat or spelt flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add 1¾ cups of buttermilk, butter and honey. Using a wooden spoon, stir until all of the liquid has been evenly mixed in. If needed, add the remaining buttermilk a little at a time until the dough comes together. Reserve any leftover buttermilk.
3. Once too stiff to stir with the spoon, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough two or three times to form a rough loaf.
4. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush a thin layer of buttermilk over the top of the loaf and scatter with seeds or oats, if using.
5. With a large knife, score a deep ‘X’ across the top of the loaf making sure to cut about halfway down.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, reduce the heat to 175°C (350°F) and continue to bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool before slicing.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.