Skip to content

Irish Soda Bread

A rustic, tender quick bread with a crisp crust and a buttery crumb, ready in an hour with no yeast or rising.

60 minutes
Serves 10
Side

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

  3. 3

    In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg, then stir in the raisins if using.

  4. 4

    Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet mixture, and stir just until a shaggy dough forms; it will look rough and slightly sticky. Overmixing makes the bread dense.

  5. 5

    Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 3 or 4 times just to bring it together, then shape into a round 6-inch dome on the prepared sheet.

  6. 6

    Using a sharp knife, cut a deep X across the top about 1 inch deep, which helps the bread bake through and is said to let the fairies out.

  7. 7

    Bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped on the bottom; internal temperature should reach about 200°F. Cool on a rack at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Plan it in Listahan

Add Irish Soda Bread to your week, check it against your household's allergens, and build the shopping list automatically.

More Breads recipes