Mini Walnut Soda Breads

Versatile mini Irish soda breads that are good served with cheese, spread with butter and jam at teatime, or paired with a main-course salad. How about cooking up a batch for Saint Patrick's Day? I found this recipe on a baking website called DianasDesserts.com for Zaar World Tour 2005.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  cups whole wheat flour
• 1  cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup  chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1  cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
• 1  cup  chilled buttermilk
• 1  large egg
• 2  tablespoons  mild-flavored light molasses

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly flour large baking sheet.
2. Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend well. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in toasted, chopped walnuts.
3. Whisk buttermilk, egg and molasses in small bowl.
4. Gradually add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring until medium-firm dough forms.
5. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead until dough comes together, about 6 turns.
6. Flatten dough into disk. Cut into 6 wedges. Shape each wedge into ball. Place on prepared sheet, spacing evenly apart. Flatten each to 3-inch round. Using sharp knife, cut shallow X in top of each round.
7. Bake breads until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
8. Transfer to rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.