Herbed Cheddar Soda Bread

By krystallondon

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated cheddar cheese, lightly packed
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Preparation

Step 1

1. Position oven rack in bottom third of oven. Preheat to 400F. Spray 2 8 × 4-in. loaf pans. Stir flours with baking soda, herbs and salt in a large bowl until combined. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, work butter into flour mixture until coarse crumbs form. Stir in cheese. Pour in buttermilk and stir just until combined.

2. Transfer dough to a well-floured surface. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into a loaf about 7 in. long. Place in prepared pans.

3. Bake in bottom third of oven until tops of loaves are deep golden, 35 to 45 min. Remove to a wire rack to cool for 10 min. Run a knife around inside edge of each pan, then turn loaves out onto rack to cool completely. Keeps well for up to 2 days.