Chocolate Soda Bread Recipe

Chocolate – It’s one of those things that everyone likes (in fact, I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t love it!). Mia, less than 2 years old, already stands in the kitchen pointing up at the cupboard shouting “choc!” constantly until one of us – either me or her (but usually me) gets fed up and surrenders. So what better way to improve this classic recipe than to include such a popular ingredient?

Chocolate Soda Bread

I’ve been keen on soda bread for a while now (here’s my recipe for normal soda bread); it appeals to both my love of baking and my love of being lazy (well, at least I’m honest!). The great thing about it is that from thought to eating it takes less than an hour, no kneading or proofing involved. You just mix together the ingredients, put into a hot oven and wait. You don’t even have to wait for it to fully cool before you eat it.

This soda bread is great for breakfast and fills the house with a delicious chocolatey smell during baking, while being somewhat more savoury in flavour than a chocolate cake. Given the short amount of time involved in making it and the ease in which it comes together, why not give it a go?

Recipe: Chocolate Soda Bread

Soda-bread is delicious, and this recipe gives it a whole new twist which just has to be tried.

Ingredients

• 500g / 4 cups plain flour
• 100g / 3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate (I used 72% cocoa), chopped.
• 2 tsp caster sugar
• 1.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 325ml / 1 1/3 cups natural yoghurt

Method

1. Pre-heat your oven to 220 c / 430f.
2. Begin by sieving all of the dry ingredients into a bowl, then add in your egg and yoghurt. Mix all of the ingredients together (either by hand or with a machine) until well combined.
3. Turn out the mixture onto a floured work surface and knead for just a few seconds to bring it together. Form into a ball with your hands, lay on a lightly greased baking sheet and then squash down to about 1 inch thick. Cut the dough with a serrated knife almost all of the way through in a criss cross shape, and then place into the oven for 20 minutes. After this time reduce the temperature to 200 c / 390 f and leave for another 20 minutes until the loaf is cooked (it will sound hollow when knocked on the bottom).
4. Now wait for it to cool a bit – but not completely – before slicing and spreading with butter and enjoying!

Preparation time: 20 minute(s)

Cooking time: 1 hour(s)

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