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Downey's Soda Bread

Baguette-like loaves make this Irish classic easy to slice, providing perfectly sized portions.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    2 1/2 hr (includes cooling)

  • Yield

    Makes 3 (16-inch-long) loaves

Ingredients

5

cups whole-wheat flour (preferably stone-ground)

2

3/4 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting

1

/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

2

teaspoons baking soda

2

teaspoons salt

2

sticks unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces

2

1/4 cups well-shaken buttermilk at room temperature

2

large eggs at room temperature, lightly beaten

Accompaniments: crème fraîche; jam

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.

    Step 2

    Blend flours, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and butter in a large bowl with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. 3Stir in buttermilk and eggs until a smooth dough forms. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and divide into 3 pieces. Form each piece into a 16-inch-long log and arrange, evenly spaced, on a lightly floured baking sheet. Generously sprinkle with flour and cut 3 diagonal shallow slashes on each log with a very sharp knife.

    Step 3

    Bake 30 minutes, then reduce oven to 375°F and continue to bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted into center of a loaf comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

    Step 4

    Transfer loaves to a rack to cool. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.