Guinness & Honey Sweet Brown Irish Soda Bread
By papacarrot Appetizers, Breads, Sides Irish Baking
February 8, 2016
Soda bread can come in all shapes, sizes and styles. While I was in Ireland I was able to sample many versions of this delicious bread and by the time the trip was over I knew what I loved most about an Irish Brown Soda Bread and what I wanted to create. While my version is not wholly tradition, I feel that it pays tribute to what I fell in love with on my trip.This bread had a deep rich flavor from the Guinness and a touch of sweetness from the honey and the brown sugar. Enjoy this hearty and delicious sweet brown irish soda bread on its own or beside a nice hearty Irish stew.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Yields: 1 loaf | 12 Slices
Directions
1Preheat oven to 350°
2Grease a loaf pan and coat with flour or line with parchment paper.
3Add flours and other dry ingredients (through salt) to a large bowl or stand mixer bowl. For the best results add the flours by weight. Mix the dry ingredients until combined and then make a well in the center for the wet ingredients.
4Put the Guinness in a pan over medium-low heat until it starts to bubble lightly. Add the brown sugar, molasses, honey and butter to the pan and stir until well combined. Turn down the heat and let the Guinness simmer for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
5While the Guinness mixture cools, lightly beat one large egg in a separate bowl then add the buttermilk and vanilla. Stir until combined.
6Pour the Guinness mixture into the well in the center of the dry ingredients then add the egg mixture. A stand mixer with a paddle attachment works best or mix with a spatula just until everything is combined.
7Pour the mixture into the loaf pan and top with a sprinkle of oats.
8Cook at 350° for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center cleanly.
9When you can't stand waiting any longer to eat this delicious bread remove the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve with some wonderful Kerrygold butter or some Sweet Guinness Dipping Sauce.
26 Reviews
Heather
April 1, 2019
I really liked the flavor and will make it again. My loaf split across the top. Any suggestions for fixing that next time?
Irish: Traditional Irish Leek and Potato Soup and Guinness and Honey Sweet Brown Irish Soda Bread – 2019: Our Year of Cuisines!
March 23, 2019
Linda
March 20, 2019
I made this bread for an Irish celebration to pare with Irish Stew. It was fabulous! It is moist, hearty, and very tasty. I will definately make this again.
avan
March 14, 2019
Meckalah, Sorry I missed replying to your comment before. I really know nothing about how alcohol works in cooking but in my research it seems that for the bake time of this recipe there would still be about 40% of the original alcohol content left. However I also read that boiling it for 30min would eliminate it. Perhaps when adding the beer to the pan let it simmer for 15-20 min before moving to the next step which would reduce it by half and let the baking cut the remaining to 0. Don’t take my word for it though, there is some good information online you can review and choose what works best for you. I hope you are able to try it out.
avan
March 14, 2019
Peggy, Thank you so much for stopping by to leave your comment, makes me smile to know that others are enjoying it 🙂 Really happy to hear that it reminds you of Ireland. I can’t wait for the opportunity to go back again, until then this recipe always reminds me of my time there.
Peggy Parker
March 13, 2019
I’ve made this recipe several times and I absolutely love it! I used to live in Dublin and it does remind me of so many of the flavors of Ireland. I’ve made it for St. Patrick’s Day celebratory dinners and when I said I was bringing soda bread it wasn’t met with enthusiasm until they tasted this one! Thanks so much for sharing your delicious recipe!
Meckalah
September 17, 2018
This recipe looks as delicious as it is unique! I love taking traditional recipes and putting a new spin on them for the modern age. The Guinness touch is brilliant! Whoever, as someone who does not consume alcohol, I would like to know, does the Guinness cook out? I really want to try this! And it’s nice to know that the Kerrygold goes well with this, since it’s really the only kind I use.
avan
April 13, 2018
Ann, this dough doesn’t hold its form on its own, it needs a loaf pan. The recipe can definitely be doubled, I usually cook two loaves at a time myself. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
avan
April 13, 2018
Thanks Lesli! I’m glad it was a hit and thanks so much for coming back to comment, made my day 🙂
avan
April 13, 2018
Kimberly, I have each loaf making 12 slices. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
avan
April 13, 2018
Lesli, thank you for pointing that out, hadn’t even realized I had steel cut in the recipe itself! All fixed.
Ann
April 13, 2018
Hi is the dough stein enough to bake free form or do I have to use a loaf pan? I would like to make two loaveS. Can this recipe be doubled?
Lesli
March 25, 2018
Just stopped back by to say thanks for a delicious bread recipe. Made this for a family get together, along with a loaf of ‘spotted dog’. While both were enjoyed, the Guinness loaf was the preferred favorite, pairing deliciously with my sister’s stew. This one’s a keeper- thanks much!
Kimberly
March 22, 2018
The nutritional info say 218 calories per serving. How many servings are there judging on how you slice bread to come up with that number? Thanks, I hope. I am so going to make this one way or another. Just wondering.
Lesli
March 20, 2018
Xlnt! Will you please change the recipe to ‘rolled oats’ so that it no longer lists ‘steel cut oats’ as an ingredient? Thanks!
avan
March 20, 2018
Lesli, I used rolled oats in the recipe. Someone had asked in the comments about how to use steel cut oats. I have not tested the recipe with steel cut oats, rolled oats is what I suggest for the recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Lesli
March 20, 2018
Hi – I want to try this! Need clarification tho – steel cut or rolled oats? I notice one type in the recipe, and another type in one of your comments. Please advise, and happy baking!
avan
March 16, 2018
Awesome, Betty! Glad you enjoyed the recipe and thanks for the comment!
avan
March 16, 2018
Dona, I used rolled oats in my recipe so I don’t cook them before hand. I have toasted them on occasion but I don’t notice a big flavor difference so I usually just add them raw. Steel cut oats would probably need to be cooked before hand so they are not crunchy but I would cook them very al dente.
avan
March 16, 2018
Thanks Katie! I definitely worked hard to get a good balance of those flavors so I’m happy to read your comment. Glad you liked it!
Betty Chandler
March 16, 2018
Made two loaves this afternoon. Love it! Thank you so much for recipe!
Dona
March 14, 2018
Are the steel cut cooked before adding? I ask because the one I use takes a long time to cook.
katie
December 27, 2017
I tried this recipe for st patrick’s day and it was literally The Best ever! The flavours of molasses and guinness was almost like a match in heaven. I will make it again and have my irish boyfriend try it. Thanks for the recipe! I have it bookmarked 🙂
PapaCarrot
March 10, 2017
Hi Arleen, Glad you found the recipe and I hope you like it. I am fairly new to this and do not have the ounces measurement of a serving available but I will certainly keep that in mind for the next time I bake a loaf. The nutritional information was based off of a serving size of 1/12 of a loaf so if you bake it and cut it into 12 you’d be able to weigh a slice to get the ounces measurement. Also I don’t have a photo for it yet but I went ahead and published a sweet guinness dipping sauce recipe that goes wonderfully with the bread! I’d love to know what you think of the recipe after you’ve tried it. Thanks!
Arleen
March 10, 2017
I’m going to try this today. I read the nutrition facts but it doesn’t say how many ounces is s serving. Can you give that to me please?
- February 8, 2016
- 26 Comments
Arlette
May 3, 2020
Just like I remembered when I was in Ireland this past October. The family loved it. Will be making again today. Thanks for the recipe!