Easy Irish Soda Bread
It may not be the prettiest bread ever baked, but Irish Soda Bread will be one of the easiest thanks to the lack of yeast. Since there’s no yeast involved, there’s no waiting for the dough to rise. Instead, the bread is leavened with baking soda and buttermilk. It’s the perfect bread recipe!
It only takes a few minutes to mix up this incredibly simple Irish soda bread and it makes enough to feed a small army! You can make multiple loaves at a time if you want to freeze some or give some away.
My favorite part of this bread is the crust. It has a wonderful crispy crunch that satisfies so many different cravings. The bread is also just ever so sweet so my sweet tooth is sated as well. Some people add raisins to their soda bread, and I’ve been known to do it as well. It adds an extra richness and is completely a personal preference. If you do decide to add raisins, go for 2/3 cup to start. I do recommend trying the bread as is at least once.
I like to baste my Irish Soda Bread so that it’s even more decadent when it comes out of the oven. You can skip that step if you want. It’s my own personal preference. Whatever you decide to do, I know you’ll enjoy this incredibly easy bread! It’s a great accompaniment to any Irish dish and no St. Patrick’s Day is complete without it!
You can freeze this bread for up to 3 months once it’s been baked. Just make sure to place it in an air-tight container to prevent it from drying out or getting freezer burn. Let it thaw overnight at room temperature when you’re ready to use it.
Make Your Own Irish Soda Bread
Easy Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups cake flour
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and lightly grease a large baking sheet.
In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Cut in the softened butter. Stir in a cup of buttermilk and add the egg.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured countertop and knead 3 - 5 times. Form a ball with the dough and smoosh it to about a 3-inch thickness. Place on a prepared baking sheet.
Stir together the melted butter and 1/4 cup buttermilk in a small bow. Using a pastry brush, baste the bread loaf with the mixture. Cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Brush with the butter + buttermilk mixture every 15 - 20 minutes.
Slice to serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1 sliceAmount Per Serving Calories 444Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 71mgSodium 692mgCarbohydrates 61gFiber 1gSugar 7gProtein 8g