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    Irish Soda Bread

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    Pin image of Irish soda bread with the words "Irish Soda Bread" on top.

    This Irish soda bread is the perfect recipe for St. Patty's Day! It goes great with corned beef or with soup or stew.

    Sliced Irish soda bread.

    This Irish soda bread recipe is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

    It's easy to make, there is no waiting for the bread to rise, and it's flavorful. In a short amount of time you can have this yummy bread fresh out of the oven.

    It's delicious with butter slathered over to the top. Or add some jam or honey.

    What is Irish Soda Bread?

    Irish soda bread uses baking soda instead of yeast for leavening. It has an 'x' or cross pattern on the top of the bread.

    It traditionally only uses 3 (although there is some that say it has 4) ingredients. The traditional ingredients are flour, baking soda and buttermilk. The controversial ingredient is salt.

    Many recipes (including ours below) include a few other ingredients including sugar, raisins, butter, and an egg.

    Best Toppings

    This bread is so delicious while it's still warm with a pat of butter spread over the top.

    Some of our other favorites are with some some jam or a drizzle of honey.

    Recipes to Pair With

    Top down view of baked soda bread in a round bowl.

    We like to eat fresh, homemade bread while it's still warm by itself. But you can definitely pair Irish soda bread with other dishes.

    Irish soda bread is such a great side for soups and stews.

    It also pairs well with corned beef and cabbage for an Irish meal.

    Tips

    This recipe uses buttermilk in it and you'll want to make sure to use this. Not only for the flavor, but because of it's reaction with the baking soda. Since this bread doesn't use yeast, it has buttermilk and baking soda that react together.

    If you don't have buttermilk, you can easily turn regular milk into something similar to buttermilk. Using a glass measuring cup add in 1 tablespoon of vinegar and then fill to the 1 cup line with milk. Let this sit for about 5 minutes and you can use this in place of buttermilk.

    This recipe calls for 1 ¾ cups buttermilk, so you want to add about 1 and ¾ tablespoon vinegar to the measuring cup and fill with milk up to the 1 and ¾ cup line with milk.

    Let the bread sit about 7-10 minutes before cutting into it. You'll find the crumb is better and it doesn't "gum" up if you let it sit for a few minutes before cutting the bread.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for Irish Soda Bread.

    All-Purpose Flour

    White Sugar

    Salt

    Baking Powder

    Butter, cold and cut into cubes

    Raisins - optional

    Buttermilk

    Egg

    How to Make Irish Soda Bread

    Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F.

    Step 2: We used a cast iron skillet when we made our Irish soda bread, but you can also use a cookie or baking sheet. Grease either a skillet or baking sheet and set aside.

    Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, white sugar, salt and baking powder until well combined.

    Step 4: Use a pastry cutter or large fork to cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until well-distributed and dry ingredients resemble clumpy sand.

    Cut up butter in flour mix.
    Butter in tiny pieces after being cut into the flour mixture.

    Step 5: Stir in the raisins and set aside.

    Step 6: In a small bowl or large measuring cup, beat together the buttermilk and egg until well-combined.

    Egg mixed into the buttermilk.

    Step 7: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk-egg mixture. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until you're unable to stir anymore, then use your hands to continue kneading the dough, at least 2 minutes until it's mostly no longer sticky and the dough forms a cohesive ball.

    Egg mix being poured into flour mixture.
    Bread kneaded and ready to be moved to skillet.

    If you want, once the dough is mostly formed, turn the dough out and knead it on a flat and floured surface.

    The dough will be sticky at first. Make sure to avoid the desire to add more flour to the dough for at least a minute - it will be sticky at first but should become less sticky with kneading.

    Step 8: Place the ball of dough onto the prepared skillet or cookie sheet.

    Use a sharp knife to cut a large X-shape in the center of the dough to allow steam to escape.

    Bread dough in skillet with an "x" cut into the top of it.

    Step 9: Bake for 45-55 minutes, until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

    Baked bread in the cast iron skillet.

    Enjoy your freshly baked bread!

    Baked Irish soda bread in a bowl.
    Sliced Irish soda bread.

    Irish Soda Bread

    Jenny
    This Irish soda bread is delicious and perfect for St. Patty's day.
    5 from 1 vote
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course Bread
    Cuisine Irish
    Servings 1 loaf
    Calories 262 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 4 Tablespoons Butter cold and cut into cubes
    • 1 cup Raisins
    • 1 ¾ cup Buttermilk
    • 1 Egg

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375F.
    • Grease a skillet or baking sheet and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, white sugar, salt and baking powder until well combined.
    • Use a pastry cutter or large fork to incorporate the cold butter into the flour mixture until well-distributed and dry ingredients resemble clumpy sand.
    • Stir in the raisins and set aside.
    • In a small bowl or large measuring cup, beat together the buttermilk and egg until well-combined.
    • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk-egg mixture. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until you're unable to stir anymore, then use your hands to continue kneading the dough, at least 2 minutes until no longer sticky and the dough forms a cohesive ball.
    • Place the ball of dough onto the prepared skillet or cookie sheet.
    • Use a sharp knife to cut a large X-shape in the center of the dough to allow steam to escape.
    • Bake for 45-55 minutes, until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

    Notes

    Avoid the desire to add more flour to the
    dough for at least a minute - it will be sticky at first but should become less
    sticky with kneading.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 323mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12g
    Keyword Irish Soda Bread, quick bread
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Make sure to "PIN IT" for later!

    Pin image of Irish soda bread with the words "Irish Soda Bread" on top.

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    Welcome! I'm Jenny!

    I am a wife and a mom to 3 sons. I love to garden, cook, and experiment with recipes and food combinations. Join me as I share recipes and food ideas. More About Me ->

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