Cast Iron

Carrot Soda Bread

by:
June  7, 2014
4
4 Ratings
Carrot Soda Bread
  • Makes one 9-inch(ish) loaf
Author Notes

Simply the easiest -- it doesn't even call for butter! -- and most delightful soda bread. I ate almost an entire loaf on my own for breakfast, just slathered with butter. This is adapted from the River Cottage classic soda bread recipe. —fiveandspice

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 cups flour (white or a mix of white and whole wheat)
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda (or shall we call it bicarbonate?)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 cup raisins
Directions
  1. Heat your oven to 400° F. Stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, then make a well in the center.
  2. Add the buttermilk and grated carrot to the well, then stir until everything is combined. Add the raisins and work them into the dough either with a wooden spoon or with your hands (a slightly sticky process, but doable), which also serves to briefly knead the dough into a very sticky shaggy ball.
  3. Turn the dough out into a 9-inch cast iron skillet (or similarly sized heavy baking pan). Bake until crusty and brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 40 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and allow to cool (at least partially) on a cooling rack before tearing in.
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5 Reviews

Elaine
Elaine March 23, 2016
It must be said: I've now made this soda bread approximately 8 thousand times. It's the best recipe I've ever found--the earthiness of the carrots and the sweetness of the raisins (or the zing, because sometimes I quick-pickle them) make this so. freaking. good.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice March 23, 2016
Yay! That's so great! I'm always blown away by how surprisingly good it is too. :)
 
Christa R.
Christa R. June 16, 2014
Would this recipe be good made with a non-dairy milk substitute?
 
Debbie
Debbie June 17, 2014
I'd bet full fat coconut milk (canned) would work very well.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice June 17, 2014
I agree. I bet coconut milk would work, or almond/soy. I would add a squeeze of lemon though because you need done acidity to activate the soda.