Traditional Irish Soda Bread

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Irish soda bread here in the U.S. almost always has a lot of sugar, raisins and caraway seed.  Although some traditional Irish soda breads do have the seed, they are not sweet, but rather savory breads.  Goes great with Irish Coddle or Potato Soup!

 Here’s What you Need:

  • 3 cups flour (you can use gluten free flour without adjusting anything else)
  • 2 Tablespoons of white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon table salt
  • ½ cup melted Irish butter (regular will work, but Irish is better) – plus 2 Tablespoons for the top
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ¼ cup buttermilk  (you can also use ¾ cup buttermilk and ½ cup Irish stout beer)

 Here’s How you Do it:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients well.  Beat the egg and add it and the buttermilk to the flour.  Gently mix.

Still in the melted butter, mixing well, but not over mixing.

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The dough will be VERY sticky – DO NOT TRY TO KNEAD IT!  Like muffin dough, the more you mix it, the tougher the bread becomes.

 

Turn the dough out into a bread pan or, as I used, a round ceramic casserole pan.  Keep it round if you can.

Carefully pour the last 2 Tablespoons of melted butter over the top and put into the oven.

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Bake for 30-40 minutes – checking at 30 for doneness (put in a knife – if it comes out clean, it’s done).  You can rub a little butter on the top while it’s still hot – but just a little!

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Carefully remove from the pan and allow to cool before serving.

 

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Serve with Irish Coddle or Irish Potato Soup!

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Traditional Irish Soda Bread
Course: baking, bread
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: bread, irish, st patricks day, traditional
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: HelenFern
Ingredients
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 Tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup PLUS - 2 Tablespoons (for the top) melted butter (Irish butter is the best)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1-1/4 cup buttermilk (You can also use 3/4 cup buttermilk & 1/2 cup Irish stout beer)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

  2. Mix the dry ingredients well.  Beat the egg and add it and the buttermilk to the flour.  Gently mix.

  3. Stir in the melted butter, mixing well, but not over mixing.

  4. Turn the dough out into a bread pan or, as I used, a round ceramic casserole pan.  Keep it round if you can.

  5. Carefully pour the last 2 Tablespoons of melted butter over the top and put into the oven.

  6. Bake for 30-40 minutes – checking at 30 for doneness (put in a knife – if it comes out clean, it’s done).  You can rub a little butter on the top while it's still hot - but just a little!

  7. Carefully remove from the pan and allow to cool before serving.

Recipe Notes

The dough will be VERY sticky – DO NOT TRY TO KNEAD IT!  Like muffin dough, the more you mix it, the tougher the bread becomes.

Leave me a comment! I’d love to hear your thoughts –

This entry was posted in Breads and Rolls and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

17 Responses to Traditional Irish Soda Bread

  1. This would be a new recipe for me. I’ll have to try it!

  2. Heather says:

    Yummy! I always make it with raisins or currants so I’ll have to try this version now too! Thanks for linking up! I’m featuring you today at Friday Favorites!!

  3. Jess says:

    Love this recipe and a must make in my future!!!!

  4. Angela says:

    Thank you for sharing this, with St. Patricks Day around the corner, this is perfect! I may have to make it alongside our Corned Beef & Cabbage!

  5. Danita Carr says:

    Yum! This looks like a great recipe! Pinning to try later! #SmallVictories

  6. Pingback: St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Collection | The Lazy Gastronome

  7. Charlotte says:

    I’ve never made Irish soda bread. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

  8. Pingback: (Almost) Full Irish Breakfast - Happy St. Patrick's Day! - The Lazy GastronomeThe Lazy Gastronome

  9. Sim's Life says:

    I don’t think I have ever even eaten Irish soda bread, let alone made it… but it looks amazing and is the perfect bread for this weather! Proper comfort food when slathered with butter and served alongside a stew, perfect! :) #UnlimitedLinkParty – Sim x

  10. YUM! Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedLinkParty 103. Shared.

  11. Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up at #FoodFriday 21 for Irish Recipes. Shared.

  12. Helen, CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at #FoodFriday 22 for Bread Recipes from the previous linkup for Irish Recipes.

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