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It is not every diet that allows bread however, check out this Weight Watchers Okay Irish Soda Bread
I can smell the bread baking right now…. 🙂
Weight Watchers Okay Irish Soda Bread
Soda bread is a quick bread that does not have yeast in the recipe.
As it is a quick bread, soda bread uses sodium bicarbonate as it’s leavening agent.
There are many variations of ‘Soda Bread’s.
Technically, the Irish version uses a particular wheat that is soft and with less gluten than bread flour. Buttermilk is used as well to aid in the leavening process. However, even in Ireland there are variations of this too.
This recipe will differ from the traditional recipe in order to make it more ‘diet friendly’.
This recipe was adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe for Irish Soda Bread.
The original recipe had a PointsPlus Value of 3.It also had 130 calories and 24 net carbs per ‘wedge’. That recipe also calls for 1/2 cup of dried currants and a teaspoon caraway seeds added to it. There is also 3 tablespoons of sugar in that recipe.
I will be using sugar alternative in this recipe.
This is a sugar free site and thus, I cut the the sugar out whenever possible. You are welcome to keep the sugar however. Since we are using sodium bicarbonate for leavening, sugar alternative should have little effect on the ability to leaven.
Adding the dried fruit and caraway seeds is not essential to Irish Soda bread as well.
While some recipes will call for dried fruit, it is primarily to add some taste. Also, some texture and color. I will admit that this could be a tad boring when always baked plain. However, give me any bread just out of the oven and I am a happy person.
Lastly, this variation on a Weight Watcher’s recipe is not endorsed by them.
It is just my take on this recipe. If you are following the diet, or any other, you will need to calculate the impact of this bread on your daily intake. To get the PointsPlus Value of 3, simply add the 1/2 cup of dried currants and a teaspoon caraway seeds.
The recipe for Weight Watchers Okay Irish Soda Bread
Weight Watchers Okay Irish Soda Bread
What you will need to make this recipe.
- Flour- AP 2 cups
- Sugar Alternative- 2 tablespoons equivalent
- Baking Powder-1 teaspoon (do not omit)
- Baking Soda-1/2 teaspoon (do not omit)
- Salt-1 teaspoon
- Butter- 2 tablespoons, cold and cut into small pieces
- Buttermilk low fat- 1 cup low fat (can sub in Low Fat Plain Yogurt- Yay!)
- Optional- 1/2 cup dried currents and/or 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (see post for details)
How to make this bread.
- Preheat you oven to 350. Prep a baking sheet for nonstick. WW suggests spraying with a none stick spray and then lightly dusting with flour. I like to use parchment paper or a silicon mat as well.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine your flour, sugar alternative, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Cut the pieces of butter into the dry mix until batter is somewhat crumbly in texture.
- If adding the optional ingredients, do so now by gently stirring them in.
- Now add the buttermilk (or yogurt), stirring gently again until the mix is somewhat moistened, avoiding over mixing is essential.
- Knead the dough into a ball while still in the bowl. It should take about five or six kneads until a 6 inch ball forms.
- Cut an “X” on the top of the bread about 1/2″ deep.
- Bake until golden- about 45-50 minutes (use the toothpick test to confirm if needed). This recipe should make “12 wedges”
- Flour- AP 2 cups
- Sugar Alternative- 2 tablespoons equivalent
- Baking Powder-1 teaspoon do not omit
- Baking Soda-1/2 teaspoon do not omit
- Salt-1 teaspoon
- Butter- 2 tablespoons cold and cut into small pieces
- Buttermilk low fat- 1 cup low fat can sub in Low Fat Plain Yogurt- Yay!
- Optional- 1/2 cup dried currents and/or 1 teaspoon caraway seeds see post for details
-
Preheat you oven to 350. Prep a baking sheet for nonstick. WW suggests spraying with a none stick spray and then lightly dusting with flour. I like to use parchment paper or a silicon mat as well.
-
In a large mixing bowl, combine your flour, sugar alternative, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
-
Cut the pieces of butter into the dry mix until batter is somewhat crumbly in texture.
-
If adding the optional ingredients, do so now by gently stirring them in.
-
Now add the buttermilk (or yogurt), stirring gently again until the mix is somewhat moistened, avoiding over mixing is essential.
-
Knead the dough into a ball while still in the bowl. It should take about five or six kneads until a 6 inch ball forms.
-
Cut an "X" on the top of the bread about 1/2" deep.
-
Bake until golden- about 45-50 minutes (use the toothpick test to confirm if needed). This recipe should make "12 wedges"
See post for alternative and optional items that can be added to this recipe
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A self-proclaimed Reformed Sugar Addict, The Sugar Free Diva is a restaurant owner by day and author by night.She has been featured in numerous media outlets as well as serving on speaking panels. Most importantly, she is an avid pet owner who loves life.