Irish Soda Bread Recipe
This Traditional Irish Soda Bread recipe offers a simple, rustic loaf that is quick to prepare and requires no yeast. Made with basic pantry ingredients like all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk, this bread boasts a dense, slightly tangy crumb with a golden crust. Perfect for serving alongside hearty stews, soups, or enjoyed fresh with butter and jam, this classic Irish bread is a comforting and satisfying addition to any meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 8 slices)
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure a hot environment for baking the soda bread, which helps develop a golden crust.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
- Add Buttermilk: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk. Stir gently until a rough dough forms, ensuring all flour is moistened without overmixing.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it gently for about 1 minute until it becomes smooth and cohesive. Avoid over-kneading to maintain a tender crumb.
- Shape Loaf: Shape the dough into a round loaf and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment or lightly floured to prevent sticking.
- Score the Bread: Use a sharp knife to cut a deep cross on the top of the loaf, which helps the bread expand evenly during baking and is traditional to Irish soda bread.
- Bake: Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, indicating it is fully baked.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing, which helps set the crumb and makes slicing easier.
Notes
- Do not over-knead the dough as it can make the bread tough.
- The buttermilk provides acid which reacts with the baking soda to help the bread rise; if substituting buttermilk, add lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk.
- Scoring the top with a cross is traditional and helps the bread bake evenly.
- For a variation, add raisins, caraway seeds, or herbs to the dough before baking.
- Store leftover bread wrapped in a clean tea towel at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
Find it online: https://oliviabakes.com/irish-soda-bread-recipe/
