Cheddar Walnut Bread

I love March.  I love the wind, the rain, the warm sunshine, the wildflowers, it stays daylight longer and there is a hint that spring is around the corner.  In March my cooking changes.  I don't prepare as much comfort food.  Our comfort comes from the warm sunshine and being able to use the barbecue more frequently.

In March I spend time perusing Irish cookbooks.  My daughter surprised me with my first Irish cookbook, The Irish Spirit by Margaret Johnson.  In that particular book, the recipes were inspired by the drinks of Ireland.  This led me to The Irish Pub Cookbook featuring recipes from various pubs in Ireland.  And, that is how I came across this delicious Cheddar Walnut Bread!  One can only make so many loaves of soda bread trying to find the "right" recipe before deciding to try something else!


Cheddar Walnut Bread
adapted from The Irish Pub Cookbook by Margaret Johnson

Yield:  1 loaf

1 1/2 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons sugar
6 Tablespoons unsalted Kerrygold Irish butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/4 cups Kerrygold Vintage Cheddar Cheese, grated
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 375° F.  Prepare a 9 X 5 X 3 inch loaf pan by lightly buttering.

In a food processor combine the flours, dry mustard, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar. Pulse to blend.  Add the butter pieces and process for 10-15 seconds, or until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Set aside 1 Tablespoon cheese and 1 Tablespoon chopped walnuts for the topping. Add the remaining to the processor.  Pulse 8 to 10 times to blend.

Add the eggs and buttermilk to the mixture and process 10-20 seconds, or until a soft dough forms. Spoon the dough into the prepared loaf pan.  Smooth the top with a rubber spatula that has bee dipped in buttermilk.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese and walnuts over the top.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack before slicing.

PRINTABLE RECIPE


Should you be searching for a great soda bread recipe, you might be interested in this Not Just Any Irish Soda Bread recipe...it is super!!

I am participating at Full Plate Thursday hosted by Miz Helen's Country Cottage.


Comments

  1. Kate, I love cheesy breads and this version looks and sounds terrific! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the combination of Cheddar and Walnuts for this awesome bread! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
    Miz Helen

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