Sourdough Irish Brown Bread
Sourdough Irish Brown Bread is hearty and savory because it’s made with whole wheat flour and a cup of sourdough discard. It’s easy to make and super tasty.
Table of contents
If you don’t already have one, I can show you how to make a sourdough starter and how to feed a sourdough starter.
If you don’t have a starter, you can make traditional Irish Brown Bread, traditional Irish Soda bread or Oatmeal Apricot Soda Bread.
Recipe Ingredients
How to make Sourdough Irish Brown Bread
- Mix the sourdough discard with the buttermilk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
- Mix in the bowl until a “shaggy” dough is formed.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead briefly to bring the dough together.
- Form the dough into a ball.
- Cut a deep “X” on the top of the loaf, brush with buttermilk and bake.
Recipe Tips
- This dough is so easy to make you don’t need to use a mixer. Mixing by hand helps ensure that you won’t over work and toughen the dough.
- The “riper” your sourdough discard, the more tangy flavor you get in the loaf.
- Cutting a deep X in the top of the loaf before it goes in the oven ensures that it will rise evenly without splitting in random places.
- Sourdough Brown Bread is best the day it’s baked. Leftovers can be frozen, then defrosted and reheated.
Storage
Sourdough Brown Bread is best the day it’s baked, but will keep at room temperature for 2-3 days. Do not refrigerate. The Bread can be frozen as a loaf or pre-sliced.
One of my favorite ways to eat day-old sourdough brown bread is to generously butter a slice of bread then toast in on a griddle until it’s golden brown. Topped with a little jam, it’s heavenly.
More Irish inspired recipes
- Honey Kissed Irish Whiskey Cake
- Oatmeal Soda Bread
- Baileys Pot de Creme
- Baileys Bundt Cakes
- Baileys Cheesecake
- Baileys Chocolate Macarons
- Guinness Fudge Cake
- Triple Guinness Cake
- Irish Tea Brack
- Irish Apple Cake
- Irish Coffee Trifle
I know you hate to throw away that sourdough discard. Check out these recipes that use sourdough discard.
Since you’ve got your starter fed, peruse the entire list of My Best Sourdough Recipes. Have fun!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.
Sourdough Irish Brown Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 oz whole wheat flour (2 cups, see note)
- 2 ½ oz all purpose flour (½ cup )
- ½ oz granulated sugar (1 tablespoon)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 oz unsalted butter (2 tablespoons, room temperature)
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 8 oz buttermilk (1 cup)
- 8 oz sourdough discard (1 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F. Line a ½ sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add the butter and work in with your fingers until fully incorporated and there are no lumps larger than a pea.10 oz whole wheat flour, 2 ½ oz all purpose flour, ½ oz granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 oz unsalted butter
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Combine the egg, buttermilk and sourdough discard and pour into the well. Mix gently with a wooden spoon until it forms a shaggy dough and most of the buttermilk is incorporated.1 egg, 8 oz buttermilk, 8 oz sourdough discard
- Turn onto a floured surface and knead about 15-20 times until combined. Form the dough into a large round ball. Place the dough onto the parchment lined sheet pan and flatten the top a bit.
- Using a sharp knife or a single edge razor blade cut a ½-¾" deep X shape across the top of the loaf. Brush the top of the loaf with buttermilk. Bake for 40-50 minutes until it is golden brown and the internal temperature is 200 °F.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
An excellent brown bread! The sourdough keeps in moist but otherwise it takes like the classic Irish brown bread. Quick, easy, delicious!
First day nice and moist. Loved it later that day it gets like more bisket. Can I purchase more starter or butter to help this. 1 hour sourdough bread my other recipe is 19 hrs. Can u go 100% white flour?
Thanks Ron
This was easy, healthy, delicious and best of all, quick, thank you!