Whole Wheat Soda Bread with Walnuts and Cacao Nibs

Why This Recipe Works

While delicious, it's not actually Irish (nor does it belong in a savory baking book). Traditional Irish soda bread, made with whole-wheat flour and without raisins, butter, or eggs, is the simple, savory counterpart to its sweeter Americanized cousin. It's craggy, hearty, and full of whole-wheat nuttiness, perfect for slathering with salted butter and enjoying alongside a cup of tea or pairing with soup or a wedge of cheese. Our rendition is true to this whole-wheat, not-sweet Irish ethos. Adding both wheat bran and wheat germ to the flour mixture creates complex flavor and a rustic, coarse texture. We still take some decidedly American liberties with the mix-ins, though, studding the bread with rich toasted walnuts and crunchy cacao nibs. The cacao nibs may give you pause (after all, what's chocolate doing in a savory baking book?), but the nibs provide the intense flavor of chocolate without any sweetness. If you need any more convincing, the simplicity of this bread will seal the deal: The dough comes together in just one bowl and requires a bare minimum of shaping before it's put in a cake pan and popped into the oven.