Easy Irish Brown Bread With Guinness for St. Patrick’s Day

This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten, so you know it’s good!

Guinness Stout has a malty sweetness and a hoppy bitterness that gives this bread a distinctive flavor. This bread is hearty from whole wheat flour and oats and the addition of brown sugar in this recipe

helps balance the bitterness and adds a subtle sweet flavor.

As it’s a quick bread, it’s super easy to make, no yeast or rising required as baking soda and powder are leavening agents.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

•  Guinness Extra Stout beer or Irish Stout of choice (room temperature)
• Whole Wheat Flour
• Oats
• Irish Butter
• Buttermilk
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder and Kosher Salt
• Brown Sugar, Vanilla and Molasses (optional)

You’ll need a 9 x 5 loaf pan for this recipe.

For easy removal, spray your pan with nonstick spray and line your pan with parchment paper  that hangs over the edge of your pan. The spray will keep your paper in place and from slipping so no batter gets underneath the paper.

Parchment is nonstick so you can lift the bread out of the pan using the ends of the paper. Parchment paper also helps neutralize hot spots as a barrier between the pan and your batter.

You can skip the step if you prefer and just butter your pan well, but I like the ease of removing the bread or whatever I’m baking by lifting the paper edges.

Here are the easy steps to make this delicious and hearty bread:

•  In a large bowl, combine oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
•  In a separate bowl, whisk together the beer, *buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla and molasses, if using.
• Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the well.
• Stir batter until well mixed.

(*see buttermilk substitution in recipe notes)

•  Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle the top with oats.
•  Place bread in 450 degree oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 400 degrees.
•  Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
•  Allow bread to cool 10 minutes in pan, then remove bread from pan to a wire rack and cool completely for best slicing and less crumbling.
• Slice and serve with Irish butter, honey or jam or serve alongside your favorite soup or  Irish Stew.

Find 17+ recipes with St. Patrick’s Day inspiration from the kitchen to the table to help you Eat, Drink and Be Irish,  HERE.