Traditional Irish Soda Bread with a twist! Loaded with dark chocolate chunks and crunchy pecans!
I wasn't planning on posting a soda bread recipe this year. I already have this Rosemary Cheddar version and an awesome dried fruit soda bread here on the blog.
But there are so many things you can do with a basic soda bread, that the temptation to make another one got the better of me.
And I'm so glad I did! This one might be my most favorite yet. It's seriously packed with chocolate chunks, not itty bitty chocolate chips I tell ya.
This is important for the recipe because when you slice into the bread, the chunks of chocolate should still be melty and soft. Imagine your ideal chocolate chip cookie in bread form.
I used these dark chocolate chunks from Sharffen Berger, they're a little pricier than a regular bag of chips but so worth it!
And the pecans? Why not! but not just plain pecans because candied pecans are a million times better and along with the chunks of chocolate, this soda bread is like a giant breakfast scone and should be eaten along with a hot espresso for breakfast (or any time of the day really)
Making this Irish soda bread
You'll find that this dough is a sticky one, but plenty of flour on your hands should be enough to help you mold the bread into a perfect ball. Make it the same day you plan on eating it as soda bread can get dry quickly.
You can mix the dough and have the bread in the oven in about 20 minutes so it's really easy to make. Make sure you have a sharp knife to make that cross on top.
Best way to serve your Irish soda bread
I love eating this soda bread with a generous spread of really good butter, the salty yellow stuff, but with so much chocolate in this one, you could almost add a dollop of whipped cream and call it a full-on dessert!
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