Stage 1 – Making the Dough

1. Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Place your wholegrain flour, your white flour, and your baking soda in a sieve over a large bowl. Shake the dry ingredients through the sieve in order to remove clumps, then set aside
3. In another smaller bowl, whisk your buttermilk, egg, honey, and sugar vigorously together. You’ll want to have all these ingredients very well-mixed before adding to your dry ingredients
4. Take your bowl with dry ingredients and use a wooden ladle to create a little well in the middle. Next, pour a small bit of the buttermilk mixture into this well and stir into the flour.
5. Continue to pour the buttermilk mixture gradually into the larger bowl, mixing it into the flour as you go along the way. By the time all the buttermilk’s been added, you’ll want to have a wet, sticky consistency in your dough. If it seems too dry, feel free to add an extra dash or two of buttermilk

Stage 2 – Placing in Pan and Baking

1. Take a bread pan or a cast iron pan and line all the edges with your tablespoon of butter. This will both keep it from sticking to the pan as well as deliver a delicious golden crust
2. Take your dough and, either with your hands or your ladle, form the dough into a circular shape. If you’re using a rectangular bread pan, try to form as much of an oval as you can
3. Place the dough into your baking pan and cut two small X’s across the top of the bread
4. Place the dough in the oven and let bake for 30 minutes

Stage 3 – Finishing Touches (optional)

1. After 30 minutes, remove your soda bread from the oven. It should have a delicious golden brown color to it now
2. If adding finishing touches, take another small piece of butter and carefully rub it along the top of the bread as it melts
3. Sprinkle your oats, pumpkin seeds and some sea salt over the top of the bread, then place back into the oven for another 3-5 minutes
4. After 5 minutes max, take your bread out. Let it cool then serve with a delicious spread of butter