Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This Irish Soda Bread is a rustic and tender recipe, which is made with buttermilk and a sweet mix of raisins and cranberries. It’s a classic quick bread, meaning there’s no yeast and no long rising times required, so you can have a warm, homemade loaf on your table in about an hour.

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Irish Soda Bread Recipe Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 6 Tbsp. cold salted butter, diced and divided
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

How To Make Irish Soda Bread

1. Prep Oven and Dry Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
2. Cut in the Butter: Add 4 tablespoons of the cold, diced butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to quickly rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some small, pea-sized bits of butter remaining.
3. Add Fruit and Wet Ingredients: Stir in the raisins and cranberries. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg and the buttermilk. Pour this wet mixture into the dry ingredients.
4. Form the Dough (Gently!): Use a wooden spoon or a fork to stir the mixture until it just barely comes together into a rough, shaggy dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and, with floured hands, gently knead it just 4 or 5 times until no dry bits of flour remain. Do not overwork the dough.
5. Shape and Bake: Butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Place the dough in the skillet and pat it into a 7-inch round loaf. With a sharp, floured knife, cut a large “X” about 1-inch deep across the top of the dough.
6. Bake Until Golden: Bake for 50 to 55 minutes. If the top is getting too dark after about 35 minutes, you can tent it loosely with foil. The bread is done when it is a deep golden brown and sounds hollow when you tap on the bottom.
7. Finish and Cool: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and brush it over the top of the hot bread. Let the bread cool in the skillet for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool for another 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm.

Recipe Tips

• How to get a tender soda bread? The most important secret to any soda bread is to not over-knead it! Handle the dough as little as possible, just bringing it together until it forms a ball. Overworking the dough will make the final bread tough and dense.
• Why use cold butter? Using very cold butter and working it in quickly is the key to a tender, almost scone-like texture. The small pieces of butter melt during baking, creating steam pockets that make the bread light.
• What if I don’t have buttermilk? This is the most common question, and there’s an easy fix! To make your own buttermilk substitute, add 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 ¾ cups of regular milk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it has slightly curdled, then use as directed.
• How do I know when the bread is cooked? The best way to check for doneness is the sound test. Carefully pick up the hot loaf (using an oven mitt) and tap the bottom. If it sounds hollow, it’s perfectly cooked through.

What To Serve With Irish Soda Bread

This is a classic bread that is fantastic on its own, especially for St. Patrick’s Day. It is wonderful served:

• Warm from the oven, with a thick smear of good quality salted butter.
• With a sharp cheddar cheese and some fruit jam or marmalade.
• Alongside a hearty bowl of beef stew or a creamy potato soup.

How To Store Irish Soda Bread

• Room Temperature: Soda bread is at its absolute best when it is served warm on the day it is made. If you have leftovers, store them wrapped in a clean tea towel at room temperature. It will be good for 1-2 days and is delicious when toasted.

Irish Soda Bread Nutrition Facts

• Serving: 1 slice (1/12th of loaf)
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Protein: 7g
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Sugar: 15g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Recipe
• Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe
• Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe