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The Ultimate Irish Soda Bread Recipe: A Taste of Tradition in Every Bite

Irish Soda
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Irish Soda Bread is a classic, no-yeast bread that’s incredibly easy to make and perfect for beginners. With a soft, hearty texture and a hint of sweetness, it’s almost like a giant biscuit! This recipe comes together in under an hour and requires minimal effort. Enjoy it warm with butter, jam, or on its own for a comforting treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
  • 1 cup raisins (or currants)
  • 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk (shaken)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven:
    Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly coat a 10-inch cast iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Mix dry ingredients:
    In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Add butter:
    Using your hands, work the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Toss in the raisins.
  4. Combine wet ingredients:
    Add the buttermilk and egg to the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. The dough will be sticky.
  5. Shape the dough:
    Dust your hands with flour and transfer the dough to a well-floured surface. Gently press it a few times into a round loaf (avoid overworking the dough).
  6. Score the dough:
    Place the dough into the prepared skillet. Using a serrated knife, score an “X” about 1 inch deep on the top of the loaf.
  7. Bake:
    Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent it with foil.
  8. Cool and serve:
    Carefully remove the skillet from the oven (the handle will be hot!) and let the bread sit for 5-10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, slice, and enjoy warm with butter or jam.

Notes

  1. Don’t overwork the dough: Handle it gently to keep the bread tender.
  2. Use cold butter: This ensures a flaky, crumbly texture.
  3. Buttermilk substitute: If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 1 ¾ cups milk with 1 ¾ tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Customize it: Add seeds, nuts, or dried fruit for extra flavor and texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipes.gernarb.com/the-ultimate-irish-soda-bread-recipe-a-taste-of-tradition-in-every-bite/