Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe with SPLENDA® #SweetSwaps -

This year I am making some healthy lifestyle changes and this post is part of the SPLENDA^® 365 SWEET SWAPS ™ blogger program by McNeil Nutritionals, LLC. and The Motherhood, who sent me products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences, recipes and photos shared are my own.

Irish Soda Bread for St. Paddy’s Day

It is soon St. Paddy’s Day. In my house that means Shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage, and Irish Soda Bread for breakfast. I love this crunchy, crusty bread filled with raisins or currents. This year is decided to change things up a bit. I added dried cranberries and swapped the sugar in the recipe for Splenda as a healthier take on this old family favorite…a smart and delicious choice.

splenda-sweetswaps-logo

Being part of the SPLENDA^® 365 SWEET SWAPS™ blog campaign fits my goal of becoming fit in 2014. Swapping out sugar for SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener products is a small lifestyle change that I can easily fit into my busy schedule. It can also lead to big results over time.

The SPLENDA Brand is making the process ever so easy by dishing out 365 ways to swap sugar for SPLENDA Sweetener Products.Check out 365SweetSwaps website for a new swap each day – fun tips and recipes to help you save calories from added sugar all year long.

NOTE: SPLENDA No Calorie Sweeteners can be used for cooking and baking. 1 cup of SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener is equal in sweetness to 1 cup of sugar. 1/2 cup of SPLENDA Brown Sugar Blend is equal in sweetness to 1 cup of brown sugar. See the conversion charts below.

Let’s Make Irish Soda Bread

This is a quick and easy recipe for your first attempt at breadmaking…as it is almost foolproof!! The traditional recipe calls for raisins, but I often add in semi-sweet chocolate shavings or other dried fruit. So feel free to experiment.

Ingredients

2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 T. Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1 T. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Granulated
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3 T. butter
3/4 Cups buttermilk
2/3 Cups dried cranberries

Directions

Combine dry ingredients into a bowl.
Cut in butter until it is thoroughly mixed with dry ingredients. You can use a pastry cutter for this or three table knives held between your fingers. Just cut the mixture until it is blended. It takes a few minutes.
Flour your kneading surface lightly.
Spread mixture out on floured surface. Make a hole in center of the mixture with your fist.
Wisk egg and buttermilk together. Pour into the well in center of dry mixture.
Mix with your hands. HINT: It s sticky. Keep at it until it all comes together and is no longer sticky.
Knead for 1 minute adding small amounts of flour to make it less sticky.
Let it rest a few minutes after kneading. Shape into a nice round loaf.
Place on greased baking sheet. Score the top with a cross shape with knife.
Bake and enjoy!!!