Simple soda bread

This delicious bread couldn’t be easier to make – and it’s perfect for cooking with the kids. Plus, it doesn’t need to be left to rise, so they can see the results of their efforts straight away. If you want a more traditional finish, swap out half the plain flour for wholemeal flour in the recipe.

Ingredients

Serves: 8 (1 loaf)

Ready in: 1 hr

• 400ml semi-skimmed milk
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 500g plain flour, plus a little extra for dusting
• 30g cold butter, cut into small cubes
• 100g rolled porridge oats
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp salt

Method

1. Heat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6.
2. Whisk together the milk, lemon juice and honey in a jug. Set aside for 5 mins.
3.  Put the flour in a big mixing bowl. Scatter over the butter cubes, then use your fingertips to rub into the flour until only small crumbs of butter can be felt – small fingers are perfect for this! Stir in the porridge oats, bicarb of soda and salt.
4.  Pour most of the milk mixture (reserving a couple of tablespoons) over the dry ingredients and quickly use a palette knife or butter knife to mix it in. Add the rest of the milk if the dough is too dry, otherwise tip everything onto a lightly floured surface, and use your hands to gently gather into a ball of dough. Don’t knead too much, and don’t worry if it still looks a bit craggy and floury. Shape into a roughly 20cm round loaf with a flat top.
5.  Dust a baking sheet with some flour and lift the loaf onto it. Use a small, sharp knife to score a deep cross in the top to give an even bake (and to let the fairies out!).
6.  Bake for 30-35 mins until crusty and the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Lift onto a wire rack and cover with a tea towel while cooling – this helps to soften the crust. Best eaten sliced and buttered on the day of making!

TECHNICAL CHALLENGE
Once you’ve mastered the simple soda bread recipe, why not try a flavour-spin with this fruity soda bread? Add 1½ tsp ground cinnamon, the zest of 1 orange and 125g raisins along with the oats and bicarb and salt. Enjoy spread with butter and honey or marmalade