This delicious fig and walnut soda bread is a lovely bread any time of year, but especially lovely for St. Patrick’s Day!

fig and walnut soda bread sliced with knife and butter

I make this soda bread every year about this time. It’s a great lead up to St. Patrick’s Day. And every time I make it, I’m reminded what a great treat it is to enjoy all year round. It’s so easy to make and the fig and walnut flavours are so perfect together!

This soda bread is very, very lightly sweet. That’s why I highly recommend the addition of the honey butter! Beyond the creamy butter, the touch of sweetness it adds to every bit is just the thing to bring all the flavours together.

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Ingredients and substitutions

A few notes about the key ingredients …

Buttermilk – real buttermilk is great, but if you don’t have any on hand, make your own for this recipe by measuring out 2 cups of regular milk and removing two Tablespoons of it. Replace with 2 Tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice.

Figs – I used Black Mission Figs, but any figs will work. (For Canadians, Black Mission Figs are easily available at Bulk Barn, so you can just buy what you need. You’ll only need a handful.)

Recipe tips!

  • I baked this one up in my cast iron skillet, as you can see :) My skillet is 10 inches top diameter (8-inches diameter bottom). If you don’t have or want to bake it in a skillet, a 9-inch round baking pan should work nicely.
  • I like to mix up a small bowl of the honey butter and leave it out with the soda bread, so it’s handy to use as we enjoy the loaf.
Fig and Walnut Soda Bread with Honey Butter

Making ahead, storing and freezing

Soda bread is best on the day it is baked, but if you wrap it up well, it will still be quite good for another day or so. Soda bread freezes well up to 2 months.

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fig and walnut soda bread sliced with knife and butter

Get the Recipe: Fig and Walnut Soda Bread

Classic soda bread, flavoured with figs and walnuts and served with a lovely and easy honey butter.
5 stars from 5 ratings
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Soda Bread:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and levelled
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried figs, diced (I used black mission figs)
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 Tablespoons white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine table salt
  • 2 cups buttermilk, *see notes for substitute

Honey Butter:

  • 1/3 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons liquid honey

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400° F. (regular bake setting/not fan assisted) Grease a 10-inch top diameter cast-iron frying pan or an 8 or 9-inch round baking pan. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, walnuts, figs, baking powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Make a well in centre of the dry ingredients, then pour in the buttermilk. Stir to form sticky, thick batter. Scrape in to prepared baking pan, pushing the dough into the edges of the pan.
  • Sprinkle top with a bit of flour. Bake in pre-heated 400° oven until golden and a tester inserted in the centre comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. **Note: Check bread after 20 minutes or so and if it is browned enough, simply put a piece of tin foil over the top to stop further browning while it finishes cooking.
  • Let stand in pan for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges. Gently loosen from the edges and slide bread onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
  • Soda bread is best eaten on the day it is baked. If you can’t eat it up right away, you can wrap tightly and stretch it another day or so, or it does freeze well.
  • For the Honey Butter: In a small bowl and using fork, mash softened butter with honey until smooth. Makes about 1/2 cup.

Notes

No buttermilk? Make your own for this recipe by measuring out 2 cups of regular milk and removing two Tablespoons of it. Replace with 2 Tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice.
Tips!
I baked this one up in my cast iron skillet, as you can see :) My skillet is 10 inches in top diameter (8 inches in bottom diameter). If you don’t have or want to bake it in a skillet, a 9-inch round baking pan should work nicely.
I like to mix up a small bowl of the honey butter and leave it out with the soda bread, so it’s handy to use as we enjoy the loaf.
Be sure to read the notes above this Recipe Card, for more tips on making this recipe.
Cuisine: Irish
Course: Bread
Author: Jennifer Maloney
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 256kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 388mg, Potassium: 300mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 225IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 115mg, Iron: 1.7mg
Tried this recipe?Leaving a review is always helpful and appreciated by fellow cooks!

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