Irish Soda Bread

This is much faster and easier than making bread from yeast, but is very delicious!  Total time for preparation and baking is about 35 minutes if you are using buttermilk.  This is a moist, tender bread rather than the crusty bread that I usually make.  This is wonderful for sandwiches, but also makes good toast.

If you desire sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or caraway seeds on the bread, that is an option.  If you want to add 1 cup of raisins or cranberries, you can do that too!  This is very versatile!

I like to brush the top of my loaf with one of these choices:  egg wash (makes a crustier bread), butter or milk.  These will help make the crust a pretty brown.  However, it is totally up to you whether you do this or not!

Irish Soda Bread
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Irish Soda Bread
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. If you are not using buttermilk: In a cup or small bowl, stir together the milk and vinegar. Let stand for 10 minutes, or until curdled.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Stir in the buttermilk and honey until smooth.
  3. Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a floured surface, and shape into a disc. Place the disc into a cast iron skillet. (Mine is 9 1/2" and was plenty big enough for a batch and a half.) Lightly cut a cross in the top of the loaf. Brush top of loaf with egg wash, milk, or butter (opt.) Now would be the time to add sesame seeds, poppy seeds, caraway seeds, etc.
  4. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the crust feels firm to the touch.
Recipe Notes

Although spelt is actually a type of wheat flour, most people with wheat allergies can digest spelt flour with no problem.  Obviously, you should not eat spelt if it is a problem for you.

The first instruction image was my first attempt at this bread.  It tasted great, but was pretty ugly because I did not brush the crust with any milk, butter or egg.  The other images were my second attempt.  I made a batch and a half and baked it for 30 minutes.  I forgot to cut the cross in the top of the loaf, but brushed it with butter before baking and shaped it better with my hands.  It is a much prettier loaf.

I made a double batch, used the same medium sized cast iron skillet and baked it for 35 minutes.  It was perfectly done!

Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe

Chocolate Almond Granola

This is not at all sweet, but my husband loves it!  Of course, if you prefer it sweeter, add more brown sugar or honey!

Chocolate Almond Granola
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Chocolate Almond Granola
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl. Combine liquid ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Stir to mix. Spread onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir. Return to oven and bake for another 10 minutes without stirring. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Break into large clusters. Store in covered container at room temperature.
Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe

Easy Homemade Healthy Granola

A delicious, healthy snack that even the kids will love!  This is wonderful as is, or change it up to make it your own.  Add  dried fruit,  chocolate chips in place of the cacao nibs, or raw sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.  Pistachios taste especially good in this also!

This is the ideal snack if you are following an alkalizing diet!

This granola is perfect for using in my Fruit and Yogurt Parfait:  https://www.cherylsrecipes.net/recipe/fruit-yogurt-parfait/

This works great as a cold cereal with milk.  It is also wonderful served on oatmeal for a little extra flavor and crunch:

Oatmeal


Easy Homemade Healthy Granola
Print Recipe
Servings
12 cups
Servings
12 cups
Easy Homemade Healthy Granola
Print Recipe
Servings
12 cups
Servings
12 cups
Ingredients
Servings: cups
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Combine liquid ingredients in a smaller bowl. Mix wet and dry ingredients together thoroughly until evenly mixed. Spread on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from oven to cool. Break into clusters when completely cool. Store in an airtight container when cool.
Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe