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    Home » Recipes » Bread Recipes

    Traditional Irish Soda Bread

    Published: Mar 11, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    192 shares
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    • Yummly
    5 from 38 votes
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    pinterest image for irish soda bread

    Have you ever had Irish Soda Bread? The taste of this homemade bread is very mild and you might find it similar in flavor to a biscuit. But as with most homemade bread, it’s not meant to be eaten without something to compliment the flavor and texture.

    You don’t have to wait for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s really easy to make and is even more delicious served warm with butter, jam or marmalade.

    loaf of Irish soda bread on cutting board

    Traditional Irish Soda Bread is made with buttermilk, Irish butter, baking soda (hence the name soda bread) and a few other simple ingredients.

    slices of Irish soda bread next to loaf

    Did I mention how good it would be with softened butter and jam…sigh. It also goes well with a hearty stew (like my Guinness Beef Stew) or soup (like my seafood soup).

    What Ingredients do I need to make Irish Soda Bread?

    ingredients to make soda bread

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make traditional soda bread. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Do I have to use buttermilk to make to make Irish Soda Bread?

    Yes, you do.

    Can I make a buttermilk substitute for the recipe?

    You can easily make a buttermilk substitute for the recipe, it won’t quite be the same but it will work.

    It’s best to use whole milk, but 2% milk will work. Add 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a large measuring cup, then add enough cold milk to make 1 and ¾ cups total volume. Whisk the ingredients together, and let the milk sit for 5 minutes before using it in the recipe.

    Do I have to use raisins when I make soda bread?

    No, you don’t. I like the added flavor and touch sweetness it adds to the bread, but it’s not a make-or-break item for this recipe. And you’ll be pleasantly surprised how well it goes with stew or soup.

    *You could also add chopped walnuts to the dough for added flavor and texture.

    How do I make Irish Soda Bread?

    cast iron skillet lightly greased with butter

    Preheat your oven to 375˚F. Generously grease a 10” (or 12″) cast-iron skillet with ½ tablespoon of butter and set aside until needed.

    images showing how to make irish soda bread
    • In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients, flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
    • Cut the very cold butter into small pieces and use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until crumbs begin to form.
    • Mix in the raisins, breaking up any clumps of raisins.
    • Whisk together the 1 ¾ cups buttermilk and egg in a bowl or large mixing cup.

    *I used all-purpose white flour to make my soda bread, but you could substitute half whole-wheat flour (Irish wholemeal flour) for half the white flour for this classic recipe.

    images showing how to finish making irish soda bread
    • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the buttermilk mixture into the well of the flour mixture.
    • Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon mix the buttermilk into the flour mixture until it just comes together. Don’t over mix!
    • Transfer the dough to a floured surface and use well floured hands to shape the dough until it forms into a round loaf. It should be a little rough looking. If it’s too sticky to handle, dust lightly with additional flour. *Be careful not to overwork the dough or the soda bread will be tough.
    soda bread with an cross cut into the dough in a buttered cast iron pan
    • Transfer the formed round loaf to the buttered cast iron pan.
    • Use a sharp knife to score the top of the bread with a large and deep “X”.
    • Place the pan into a 375 degree F. preheated oven for 50-55min.

    When you tap on the bread, it should sound hollow inside, or if you use an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should be 180 degrees F.

    irish soda bread on a wire rack

    Transfer the soda bread to a wire rack to cool, and is best served while still warm.

    side view of sliced irish soda bread

    Can you image a slice or two of my Irish soda bread, with butter melting throughout the bread? It was ah-mazingly delicious. And so was the slice slathered with Irish butter and strawberry preserves.

    Why not treat your family, with my Irish Soda Bread on the dinner table this week?

    Recipe FAQ’s:

    Do I need yeast to make Irish Soda Bread?

    No, you don’t. Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread that doesn’t require yeast. The leavening comes from baking soda and buttermilk.

    Do I have to use a cast-iron skillet to make Irish Soda Bread?

    No, you don’t. You can use a lined baking sheet, or a greased or lined 9-10 inch cake pan.
    *Don’t try to squeeze the dough into a loaf pan, it won’t bake properly.

    Can I freeze Irish Soda Bread?

    Yes, you can. Baked and cooled bread freezes well for up to 3 months. You can freeze the whole loaf or individual slices. When ready to serve, let them thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature, then reheat as desired.

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    slices of Irish soda bread next to loaf
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    5 from 38 votes

    Irish Soda Bread

    Traditional Irish Soda Bread is made with buttermilk, Irish butter, baking soda (hence the name soda bread). It's easy to make is best served warm from the oven with Irish butter and jam!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time50 mins
    Total Time1 hr 5 mins
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: Irish
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 277kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Equipment

    • 10 inch Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups all-purpose flour plus ¼ cup more for dusting
    • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
    • 2 tsp sea salt
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 6 tbsp unsalted butter cold- plus ½ tbsp to grease pan
    • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk cold
    • 1 large egg cold
    • 1 cup raisins (optional)
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven at 375˚F. Generously grease a 10” cast-iron skillet with ½ tablespoon of butter.
    • In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
    • Cut the very cold butter into small pieces and use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until crumbs begin to form.
    • Mix in the raisins, breaking up any clumps of raisins.
    • Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in a bowl or large mixing cup.
    • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the buttermilk mixture into the well of the flour mixture. Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon mix the buttermilk into the flour mixture until it just comes together. 
      Don’t over mix!
    • Transfer the dough to a floured surface and use well-floured hands to shape the dough until it forms into a round loaf. It should be a little rough-looking.
      If it’s too sticky to handle, dust lightly with additional flour. 
      *Be careful not to overwork the dough or the soda bread will be tough
    • Transfer to a floured surface and use floured hands to shape the dough just until it forms into a round loaf. It should be shaggy. If it’s too sticky to handle, dust lightly with flour.
      Do not over-mix or bread will be tough.
    • Transfer the formed round loaf to the buttered cast iron pan. Use a sharp knife to score the top of the loaf with a large and deep “X”.
      Place the cast-iron pan on the center rack of a 375 degree F. preheated oven for 50-55min.
    • When you tap on the bread, it should sound hollow inside, or if you use an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should be 180 degrees F.
    • Allow the soda bread to cool on a wire rack and serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 526mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg
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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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