Light and hearty, Irish soda bread is a quick bread and super easy to make. Use a baking stone or a baking pan; no special loaf pan needed. Optional: Add raisins, currants, and/or caraway seeds as you wish. This Irish soda bread is delicious when served warm with salted butter and jam, preserves or marmalade for a simple and filling breakfast. Or serve it with soup and stews.Best of all, you don't need a special loaf pan. Use buttermilk from the store or easily make your own.
Course Bread
Cuisine Irish
Keyword how to make Irish soda bread, Irish soda bread, Irish soda bread recipe, recipe for Irish soda bread
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 47 minutesminutes
Servings 12
Ingredients
4cupsunbleached flour or white flour
4tablespoonswhite sugar
1teaspoonbaking soda
1tablespoonbaking powder
½teaspoonsea salt
½cupbuttersoftened
1cupbuttermilkor 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar; let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before using
1egglightly beaten
For the top:
¼cupbuttermelted
¼cupbuttermilk¼ cup milk + ½ teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar; let sit for 5 minutes
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
If making buttermilk, combine milk and vinegar in medium bowl. Use directions above to make 1¼ cups of buttermilk. Set aside.
Lightly grease a large baking sheet or set baking stone in oven as it preheats.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the stick of butter. Fold in 1 cup buttermilk and the slightly beaten egg.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 3 minutes.
Form the dough into a round loaf. If using the greased baking sheet, place the loaf on it. If using a baking stone, put the loaf on a peel.
In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter and the remaining ¼ cup buttermilk. Brush over the top of the loaf.
With a sharp knife, cut a shallow X (about ¼ inch) into the loaf top.
Put the pan in the oven or use a peel to transfer the loaf onto the heated baking stone in the oven.
Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. Optional: Periodically brush butter over the top while baking.
The loaf is done when the top is hard and crusty. It will have a hollow sound when tapped with the end of a wooden spoon.
Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Do not leave the loaf on the pan to cool. This could cause the bottom to overcook.
Notes
While this Irish soda bread recipe is a quick bread and does not require yeast, it will still benefit from kneading. It will help strength the dough. Be sure to cool it completely before storing.