Traditional Irish Treacle Bread

#irishrecipe #irishbaking #irishbread

Traditional Irish treacle bread, rich with treacle/molasses, is a beloved staple with roots in rural Ireland. Dating back to the 19th century, it was made with accessible ingredients like wholemeal flour and buttermilk. This moist, slightly sweet bread is often enjoyed with tea, reflecting the resourcefulness of Irish households. Its enduring appeal continues to warm hearts and homes today.

Traditional Irish Treacle Bread

Timings.
• Prep Time: 10 mins.
• Baking Time: 45 mins.
• Total Time: 55 mins.

Servings. 8

Ingredients
• 2 ¼ cup (350g/12 oz) Wholemeal Flour
• ¾ cup (150g/5 oz) All Purpose/Plain Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Soda
• Pinch of Salt
• 2 tbsp Treacle/Molasses
• 1 cup (285 ml/9.63 floz) Buttermilk
• 1 Medium Egg

Oven Temperatures.
Preheat the oven:
• Fan Oven: 180°C/360°F
• Oven: 200°C/400°F
• Gas Mark 6

Method

1. Preheat your oven to the above temperatures and sprinkle a large baking tray with white flour.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda.
3. In a jug mix together the treacle, buttermilk and egg until the treacle is fully dissolved. I heat the buttermilk a little as this helps the treacle to melt.
4. Add the buttermilk a little at a time to the dry ingredients and mix until you get a soft dough, if it’s too wet add a little extra flour.
5. Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead a little, bringing it into a round shape about 1 ½ inches deep.
7. Place on the floured baking tray and cut a deep cross in the dough. Use a sharp knife and sprinkle with flour to get a nice clean cut. Use the knife to poke a hole in each of the bread sections.
8. Bake in a preheated oven for 45 minutes, test with a skewer to ensure it’s fully baked. 9. Allow to cool fully before cutting.
10. Mmm, Scrummy!!