Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda bread recipe is a simple type of quick bread that does not require yeast. Baking powder, baking soda and salt are used to make it rise and it does not need to proof like a yeast bread.

This easy Irish soda bread recipe is a bit sweeter than many of the traditional soda bread recipes and much moister. This recipe does not need to be kneaded so it comes together very quickly.

While some Irish Soda bread recipes tend to be a little dry and taste better toasted, this homemade bread does not need toasting. It is a moist round loaf with a soft crumb, almost like a cake with a delicious flavor. Serve it with a little soft butter.

Irish Soda Bread is always a hit for St. Patrick’s Day. It goes great with an Irish stew like Guinness Beef Stew. Check out Colcannon​, Boxty, Chocolate Guinness Cake,Bangers and Mash and Dubliner Cheese Dip for some other recipes to celebrate the day.

SOME THINGS TO KNOW: FAQ’S

INGREDIENT TIPS:

• Tangy buttermilk is key to this recipe for its acidity which reacts with the baking soda to help the bread rise. It also contributes to the bread’s tender crumb.
• Use all-purpose flour for a light and tender crumb. Be sure to measure your flour correctly. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup, and level it off with a knife to avoid packing it in and using too much. Read How to Measure Flour Accurately.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

• 10″ Round Cake Pan: This pan is ideal for giving your Irish Soda Bread a defined shape and size.
•  Mixing Bowls:You will need two mixing bowls. One bowl for the dry ingredients and one bowl for the wet ingredients before combining them.
•  Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements are crucial for baking. Make sure you have a set of measuring cups and spoons for measuring both the dry and wet ingredients.
• Whisk: A whisk is useful for combining the dry ingredients thoroughly and for beating the eggs.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: A sturdy wooden spoon or a silicone spatula is needed for mixing the dough. These tools help incorporate the ingredients without overworking the dough.
• Wire Rack: Once baked, you will need a wire rack to cool the bread, preventing the bottom from becoming soggy.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

• Currants and raisins are both sweet dried fruits that come from different varieties of grapes. If you can not find currants for this recipe you can substitute raisins or golden raisins.
• If you do not have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and letting it sit for 10 minutes.
• If you are not a fan of caraway seeds or simply don’t have them, you can leave them out or substitute them with fennel seeds.
• For a whole grain version, you can replace half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Keep in mind that this will make the bread denser and heavier.

HOW TO STORE IRISH SODA BREAD:

• Before storing, let the Irish soda bread cool completely on a wire rack to prevent condensation from making it soggy. Once cooled, wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps to keep the bread moist and prevents it from drying out place the wrapped bread in an airtight bag or airtight container. Keep the wrapped bread at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.

HOW TO FREEZE IRISH SODA BREAD:

• Irish Soda Bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure the bread is completely cool before freezing to prevent ice crystals from forming. Wrap the whole loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap, making sure to cover all surfaces tightly to prevent freezer burn. Then, wrap it again in aluminum foil or place it in a freezer bag.

HOW TO REHEAT IRISH SODA BREAD:

• If you prefer your bread warm, you can reheat thawed or room-temperature bread in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5-10 minutes or until warmed through. If the bread is frozen, add a few extra minutes to the reheating time. Cover the bread with foil and place it onto a baking sheet to prevent it from drying out in the oven.

Take 2 tablespoons of the softened butter and evenly coat either a 10″ cake pan or a 10″ cast iron skillet.

Place the remaining 6 tablespoons butter into a small saucepan. Melt the butter over medium low heat. Cool slightly.

Stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter.

Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture along with the currants and caraway seeds. Mix until just blended.

Spoon the batter into your prepared pan or skillet.

Bake until golden brown for about 45 minutes. Make sure that the top is completely firm and set before removing from the oven.Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove it to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

Irish Soda Bread

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Serves: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons butter, softened and divided(1 stick)
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 cups all purpose white flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1¾ cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup currants
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Take 2 tablespoons of the softened butter and evenly coat either a 10″ cake pan or a 10″ cast iron skillet. You could also line the pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Place the remaining 6 tablespoons butter into a small saucepan. Melt the butter over medium low heat. Cool slightly.

Stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  Combine flour mixture well.

Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter.

Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture along with the currants and caraway seeds.

Mix until just blended. Taking care not to over mix. This will be a sticky dough.

Spoon the batter into your prepared pan or skillet.

Bake until golden brown for about 50 minutes. Make sure that the top is completely firm and set before removing from the oven.

Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove it to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

Slice the bread using a serrated knife.

Serve with some Irish butter and a cup of tea.

Irish Soda Bread was last modified: February 18th, 2024 by Sue O'Connell

Notes

You can easily make your own buttermilk if you do not want to purchase it just for this recipe. For each cup of milk, add either 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let sit for 10 minutes. For this recipe you would need one and 3⁄4 tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar to add to the one and 3⁄4 cups of milk.