Boy, oh boy, this delightful Irish Soda Bread recipe is something very special. Our version strays a little from the truly traditional Irish recipe and has just a touch more sweetness.
This is by no means overly sugary, but we think a little dash of sweetness just makes this bread so cozy and delicious.
IRISH SODA BREAD IS EASY TO MAKE AT HOME
We love the taste of this Irish Soda Bread, but we also love how easy it is to prepare.
Watch us show you how easy it is to make Irish Soda Bread in your very own kitchen!
It’s important to use really cold butter when ‘cutting’ it into the flour. I love to use a pastry cutter to break the cold butter into little balls.
As the dough bakes, the cold pieces of butter will release steam and allow for a wonderfully moist and fluffy inside.
You can easily order a pastry cutter by clicking here and have it delivered very fast!
IRISH SODA BREAD IS A CLASSIC QUICK BREAD
This is without a doubt one of my all-time favorite quick breads to make. The baking soda is what gives it its name (no surprise there), but you might be surprised at just how simple and satisfying this bread is to make and serve.
The history of this delicious bread is fascinating. And did we mention how easy and how delicious it is?
The batter is dense and quite sticky, but when bakes, it rises beautifully, and becomes airy on the inside, with a nice crusty exterior.
I find that after I roll the sticky dough into a ball, an oven-safe skillet, such as my trusty cast iron skillet, works perfectly as vessel to bake the bread!
You just can’t believe the smell as you pull this beautiful loaf of bread out of the oven. And it’s just so gorgeous, too!
Ah, we love you Irish Soda Bread!
IRISH SODA BREAD IS PERFECT FOR A ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION
This bread is truly something magical. And it is so simple to make.
Delicious warm, fresh out of the oven, or at room temperature. A smear of soft butter and a little jam is an ideal addition.
This is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day…or anytime of the year you are in the mood for some incredibly delicious and hearty homemade bread.
Now, let’s go ahead and make this incredible Irish Soda Bread recipe!
You are going to love it very much! You’ll be thanking your lucky charms, for sure!
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- Cooking spray or softened butter (for greasing the pan)
- 1 & 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 4 & 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 & 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter chilled
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425 F.
- Lightly grease an oven-safe skillet (cast iron is perfect) or baking sheet (the dough may spread a little more) with the cooking spray or some softened butter.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg and then set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. You can whisk with a fork for about 30 seconds, and you'll be set.
- Cut the chilled butter into cubes with a sharp knife.
- Using a pastry cutter, or two forks or knives, or your fingers (working quickly), cut the butter into the flour mixture. Continue to work the dough until the butter begins to resemble the size of peas.
- Now fold in the raisins with a wooden spoon.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk mixture.
- Gently fold the dough together with your wooden spoon until all pockets of flour are absorbed into the batter.
- With floured hands, work the dough into a ball. The dough will be sticky and stiff.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead the dough for about 30 seconds. If the dough is just too sticky to work, then add a little more flour. Don't over knead! Very important!
- Transfer the dough to the prepared skillet or pan.
- Using a sharp knife, score a large 'X' on the top.
- Bake until the bread is golden brown and the center is cooked through, about 45 minutes.
- If the bread appears to be browning too much, then add a piece of aluminum foil over the top about halfway through baking.
- Remove skillet/pan from oven and allow bread to cool for 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature with softened butter and desired toppings.
I really wanted to love this after watching you make it, but I found the dough so, so sticky and almost impossible to work with, even after adding flour a few times. Since you recommend not kneading it too much, I didn’t want to handle it too much. It ended up everywhere! It’s probably my technique, and maybe I need more practice, but the dough ended up like a big amoeba-like blob. I baked it anyway though, and must admit it tasted good. Any tips for a beginner like me would be appreciated!
We’re so sorry you had a difficult experience with the soda bread! This dough is extremely sticky! It’s always amazing how it bakes so wonderfully and then tastes really good! I think it just takes some practice in knowing when to add a little more flour and how to best knead the dough. Main thing is that you said the bread was yummy!!
Hi Chris and Wes. Made the soda bread and apple cake.
FANTASTIC!!! My wife and I ate almost half the bread. We didn’t wait for the instant pot guinness corn beef cabbage and potatoes.
Hi there Edward!! Sorry for the delayed response, but we want to say how excited we are that you had such great success with the Irish soda bread! We completely understand…it’s too yummy to not just sit there and keep nibbling on it! Thanks so much for sharing and for the GREAT review! And we really hope you enjoyed the corned beef and cabbage, too! YUM!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
You guys are such a joy to watch! I must say, though, this is not soda bread. It’s Irish Bannock, close to Spotted Dog or Railway Cakes. Soda Bread is just flour (usually brown), salt, buttermilk, and baking soda
I LoveLoveLove you zany guys!!
And we love YOU, Peggy!!! xoxoxo Kris & Wesley
i add a teaspoon of caraway seeds to mine
Hi Kathie, yes indeed, caraway is a wonderful addition to soda bread. So good!!
I made this today and it was wonderful. The whole family loved it. I made corned beef and cabbage and potatoes, so I had to make soda bread too. This one’s a keeper year round, not just for St. Patty’s. P.S. And I’m not even Irish. Love you guys!! Sherry
That’s so fantastic to hear, Sherry! We just love soda bread, too! And couldn’t agree more, it’s great any time of the year! Thanks so much for letting us know! xoxo Kris &
Wesley