Brown Butter Whole Wheat Soda Bread.
They are… exciting.
The past few weeks we have done absolutely nothing and the climax of the evening is watching Suze Orman. I wish I was joking. I’m not.
Now most of our conversations go like this:
Me: OMG, there is a Calvin Klein purse on sale and it is sooooo cheap. I know Suze would say no but what do you say?
Him: Is it really “sooooo cheap?” Or is it still insanely expensive and just because it’s 30% off you think it’s “sooooo cheap.”
Me: No, really. It’s cheap. I swear. Suze would say no. I say yes. You are the tie breaker.
Him: DENIED!
Or…
Me: It has been nearly a year since I made lobster mac! Let’s have it this weekend.
Him: I don’t think Suze would approve of a million dollar artery-clogging casserole. Let’s put that money into our (non-existent) emergency fund.
Me: Ugh. Uh… okay. Then what are we going to eat?
Him: How about we pick up some filets?
Me: Are you even serious right now?
Suze
is
everywhere.
Now she’s with me in the grocery store and when I go to the mall and when we eat dinner and when I’m stalking the Williams Sonoma website and even next to my head on my pillow at night. I can’t stop giggling when she tells someone they’re crazy for wanting to install a giant waterfall in their backyard when they are $100K in debt. It’s like a slightly more tolerable version of Nancy Grace or Dr. Phil.
Who am I and what happened to myself?
I even baked my own bread because I thought it was more economical.
Okay, I’m totally lying. I haven’t been that converted… to my husband’s dismay.
I really only baked this bread because I was immediately sold by the terms “brown butter.” I could seriously drink that stuff. I mean… I actually want to drink it. I may have a few (thousand) screws loose.
So I baked it to go with that parmesan orzo.
There is nothing more that I love with carbs than more carbs… spread with butter.
Except maybe laying down and taking a nap right on top of this pillowy loaf. Yes please.
Brown Butter Whole Wheat Soda Bread
{slightly adapted from bon appetit}
makes 2 circular loaves
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1 egg white, beaten
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, making sure the rack is in the middle of the oven. Heat the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking continuously until golden, about 3-5 minutes. The minute you see little brown specks form at the bottom of the saucepan, remove from heat.
In a large bowl, combine flours, oats, salt, pepper, seasonings, baking soda and powder, brown sugar and garlic together. Pour in buttermilk and butter and stir with a fork to bring together. Dough will be fairly sticky.
Set dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes until dough is silky and no longer sticky. Divide in half, and form into two equally shaped rounds, about 6 inches in diameter. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, 6 inches apart. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with additional seasonings and black pepper if desired. Cut an “x” into the top of the dough that is about a 1/2 inch deep.
Bake breads for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the middle is set. Let cool for 30 minutes, then serve with butter.
Note: this is a soda bread, so it may not be as typically fluffy as yeast breads. It’s slightly more dense and a bit hearty from the oats and whole wheat flour.
I forgot to mention that this bread is insanely easy and completely yeast-free. Get on it.
107 Comments on “Brown Butter Whole Wheat Soda Bread.”
Love bread recipes sans yeast! SO much quicker/easier… and brown butter? SOLD!
Omg that looks so good! I really should avoid gluten but that bread with that butter (last pic) is screaming at me!
And Suze. Girl. Back in the day before I had a kid, a blog, and a full time job, and a full time degree in craziness trying to manage it all :) but I used to watch Suze all.the.time Back when she was rinky dink and on PBS..like we’re talking circa 2001-ish.
Honestly, I credit her with helping me stay debt free and being able to talk myself out of things. For real. I do really give her props!
I heart soda bread! No need to wait until st pattys day for that goodness
Ohhhh – must make nowww! This sounds incredible. Ahh, the Suze skits on SNL are ahhmazing.
Hahaha I know!
This bread looks great – and I especially love that it doesn’t involve yeast and rising :). Once it starts getting cooler outside, I crave making bread… and this one is going on my list!
Looks PRETTY healthy to me!!
Why do you taunt me with pictures of gluten laden treats so much? Be a good friend. Gosh.
I’m totally joking – kind of.
But really, the bread looks delicious. An while I want to say I am going to make it this weekend, that would be a lie because I can’t. I’ll dream about it though!
I wish I could tell you that you could make it with some kind of subs… but I know nothing about that. Wah!
Mmm…soda bread is so good. And that’s too bad that Mr. How Sweet didn’t let you make that lobster casserole! ;-)
New to your site – really enjoying it! I have a dinner party on Friday and I’m going to attempt this recipe. Thanks a bunch! xoxo from Trinidad
I’ve been waiting for you to post this (in great anticipation) since you posted the photo! LOVE the look of this bread. Yum!
Yeast free bread — that means I might actually have a chance of pulling it off!
I’ve never been a big Suze watcher but we’ve read Dave Ramsey’s books and yes he seems to be with me when I go shopping for anything — sometimes I just want to punch him in the face and “let” me buy something that I don’t need.
oh my gosh, i need to not watch suze orman if she’s that addicting…i can see nate and i doing the exact same thing with pretty much the exact same convos. scary!
Look at you, you thrifty one!! Now that you’re making your own bread, you’ll have enough money left over to put in that waterfall you’ve always wanted! Waterfall streaming brown butter maybe?? ;)
Fresh bread is the best!!!!!
Oh what would we do without our other halvs?!? WIthout them to tell us no…. Then again where would they be without us to bake delicious things like this!!!?!
Yeast-free bread? you are speaking my language!
1. Bread looks delish, recipe saved.
2. I know nothing of this Suze lady so can I have your Lobster Mac recipe!!! Artery Schmartery…
Yeast free bread? Now you’re talking my language!
ahhaha the THOUGHT of drinking brown butter… i can only imagine what it tastes like! baking bread is so f un though. I like making bread into loaves with the “knots” or braids :)
Isn’t yeast the most annoying recipe component on the planet? I am sooooo into yeast-free breads. Also, Suze makes me crazy because she makes you feel guilty for buying a pack of gum. You can’t take money with you!
It looks like it would be insanely delicious, especially right out of the oven with slabs of butter. But first I’d have to stick my nose in it ’cause that’s what I do, stick my nose in breads and pizza crusts and take great BIG whiffs!! My kids think I’m weird, and they really hate it when we go out for pizza.
It’s almost as weird as dunking grilled cheese in pickle juice. ;-)
Oh that Suze will get you every time. Why does she know everything!?
Looks amazing Jessica! I love me some soda bread… and the brown butter takes it over the top!
Brown butter bread? How can that be anything other than awesome?!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That whole conversation exchange between the two of you literally had me in tears laughing. That sounds SO similar to our household it’s not even funny (okay, it actually IS funny, but you know what I mean…)
That looks amazing and I love that it’s whole wheat!
Oh my gosh, this BREAD. I’m a proud Irish girl, and brown bread and soda bread are my downfalls. (I would almost rather have a slice of warm, freshly baked brown bread slathered in butter than a brownie. Believe it.) Despite my destitution, I am seriously considering going home and buying the ingredients to make this tonight. It just looks so homey and delicious!
You had me at yeast-free! Yeast treats me badly every time I invite her into my kitchen. This looks so good! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve ALWAYS been intimidated to make bread. Just the thought of using yeast makes me run away…far far away. But I’m LOVING that this doesn’t have any yeast- WOOHOO! I definitely want to try it. Like now. Right now. Guess I will have to wait until I get home from work though…boo! I think it would be perfect with a soup recipe :)
Ooooh, I’m going to remember this one– there is NOTHING better than homemade bread.
So, when you say “get on it” you mean like, to straddle the bread and eat your way to a place of heavenly bliss?
Because I’m about to.
I’m not scared to do this.
You told me to do it.
I AM NOT MAKING ANY MORE OF YOUR BUTT-EXPANDING BREAD!!
(after I make this one….. then I am DONE. FOR SURE. Maybe.)
(and I’m only making this one because I already have all the ingredients and you are practically forcing me to.) LOL
The words “no yeast” alone sold me but man would this be awesome with some meatloaf and mashed potatoes! Comfort food season!
Yes, please – I’d love a loaf of this with my dinner tonight!!
Suze is crazy but that’s what makes her so fun to watch. People are also ridiculous who call into that show. It’s quite the entertainment. The best part about this bread is that I have everything on hand and there is no rising time! I always have the best intentions to make my own bread but I just don’t have the time or foresight to deal with the rising process.
Done!! We’re having a chili get-together tomorrow night and I’m in charge of bread or cornbread. I’m totally bringing this guy!
…”a more tolerable version of Nancy Grace or Dr. Phil…” HILARIOUS. My fiance would LOVE to get some Suze in my life!
I am with you 100%: if it says ‘brown butter’ on anything, I’m sold.
Oh this is cruel. I love bread. I reallllly love soda bread. AND, I have no idea who Suze is. ?? I might try to gluten-free this just to see how pathetic + failed it turns out, haha.
Whole wheat bread is just pulling on my heart strings! I love whole grains!
AND it’s yeast-free?! Sign me up! :)
This story reminds me of the year I desperately needed a battery for my laptop for school. That’s all I asked for. The ONLY thing I asked for. I’m not even joking. Come Christmas, I got a square package from my dad…when I unwrapped it I saw “Women and Money” courtesy of Suze Orman. I nearly threw it at his head. She haunts me too for what it’s worth.
LOL!
i love having bread recipes without yeast, too! i don’t think anything beats a homemade yeast bread, but i usually forget to start them in time :)
This is a “stop what you’re doing and make right this second” recipe. Dear God. I could face plant into that loaf.
Rosemary and thyme in bread is oh so good!
And you should have included me on the vote for the purse. I would have said yes and my vote counts for two with baby on board!
Next time I am definitely consulting you.
P.S. I bought it anyway.
This looks so hearty and good! And no yeast! Love those easy breads that are delicious but don’t take days to make! Thanks for sharing!
That looks pretty darn amazing! And your posts always crack me up. :)
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that yeast breads really freak me out. I love bread, I love sandwiches, I love toast and french toast but making the bread to make these things has me thrown. Maybe I’m scared because yeast is alive? Or maybe because I don’t have a kitchenAid mixer with a hook to make the bread? But I feel like I could totally make this bread without yeast or said mixer with unscary results! Fear conquered!!!
Oh man… I love yeasted breads. You gotta try it and just go with it. SO good.
I am so glad you finally shared this recipe (you only teased us with it for so long)! What’s better than brown butter bread with more butter on top. I sooo can’t wait to try this!
Love Suze Orman and brown butter! They should sell brown butter as an air freshener or candle fragrance, life would be so much better.
I’d totally buy that.
Soda bread rocks! These look like perfection. Browned butter…. Yes pleeeeeze!
How did you know that I just bought a corned beef roast and was looking for a good soda bread recipe?! Add some cabbage, and it’ll be St Patrick’s Day dinner at the casa this week! Seriously, this looks amazing – thanks for sharing! (have you ever put any dried fruit in it, too?)
That meal sounds SO good!