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This Easy Irish Soda Bread is the best! So quick to make, I love this soda bread with Irish butter and jam.
Growing up Irish American, we always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with Beef Stew and fresh baked bread. Oddly enough, my Irish American family didn’t make soda bread. We were missing out, because Irish Soda Bread is such a quick and easy, yeast free bread recipe.
Traditional Irish Soda Bread is made with just flour, salt, baking soda and buttermilk. Sometimes dried currants are added. I first found this recipe On Alexanda’s Kitchen. She has so many great bread recipes, and I love that this recipe is a bit richer with the addition of eggs and butter. It might not be traditional, but I think our Irish ancestors would be proud that we have gone from poor, indentured servants to being able to afford eggs and butter on the regular.
How to make the best Irish Soda Bread
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and butter a 10 inch cast iron skillet (or similar baking dish).
- In one bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and sugar.
- In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and melted butter.
- Pour liquid mixture into flour mixture. Use a rubber spatula to mix into a shaggy dough.
- If dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little flour, shape into a ball with your hands.
- Transfer dough ball to prepared skillet. Use a knife to score an X in the top of the bread loaf (this will help the center bake).
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until loaf is golden. To test for doneness, tap the bottom of the loaf – it should sound hollow. Allow to cool slightly before slicing.
Looking for more Irish Recipes? Be sure to try my Irish Guinness Beef Stew or Irish Brown Bread. For a side dish, try this Sautéed Cabbage. And to drink, you can’t go wrong with an Irish Mule or an Irish Maid Cocktail!
Best Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt*
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 and 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and butter a 10 inch cast iron skillet (or similar baking dish).
- In one bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and sugar.
- In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and melted butter.
- Pour liquid mixture into flour mixture. Use a rubber spatula to mix into a shaggy dough.
- If dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little flour, shape into a ball with your hands.
- Transfer dough ball to prepared skillet. Use a knife to score an X in the top of the bread loaf (this will help the center bake).
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until loaf is golden. To test for doneness, tap the bottom of the loaf – it should sound hollow. Allow to cool slightly before slicing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Adapted from Alexanda’s Kitchen.
Really good 👍
You write so beautifully. Make the recipes beautiful in simple language. Thank you for sharing