Perfectly Moist Irish Wheaten Bread

My husband, a native Northern Irishman, loves this bread with a bowl of tomato and lentil soup or with butter and cheese or jelly. It really is so easy to make and comes out perfectly every time! I hope you will enjoy it too!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 225 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• ¼ cup margarine
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• 1 cup bread flour
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 ¾ cups whole wheat flour

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Prepare a shallow baking pan with cooking spray.

Step 2

Sift together the bread flour, whole wheat flour, salt, baking soda, and 2 teaspoons sugar in a bowl. Cut the margarine into the flour mixture until pieces are nearly indistinguishable. Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the oil and buttermilk. Stir with a spatula until dry mixture is completely moistened. Move the dough to a lightly-floured surface. Lightly knead the dough for no more than 1 minute. Place the dough into the prepared pan; pat down and around to form a round loaf. Cut a cross into the top of the loaf with your finger. Brush the top with 1 tablespoon buttermilk; sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over the top of the loaf.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C); rotate pan and bake another 30 minutes.

Step 4

Allow loaf to cool on a wire rack before slicing.