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Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Photo Credit
Laura Adamache/Shutterstock
Written By: The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors The Almanac Editors and Staff
Yield
1 loaf
Category
Bread
Course
Breads
Preparation Method
Bake
Sources
Yankee Magazine's Best New England Recipes

There’s no need to make a deal with a leprechaun. This Irish soda bread recipe turns instead to science—well, baking soda and baking powder—for a lighter, scone-like loaf. Note that traditional Irish soda bread is plain without add-ins such as currants and caraway, so we’ve marked those ingredients as optional. Soda bread tastes best steaming hot from the oven, slathered with Irish butter!

Find 20 more St. Patrick’s Day recipe ideas!

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup raisins, golden raisins, or currants (optional)
2 tablespoons caraway seeds (optional)
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350º. In the bowl of a standing mixer with paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add butter, caraway seeds, and currants (if you like). Combine just until incorporated.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg. Add to dough; mix just until incorporated.
  3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over onto itself two or three times, shaping it into a round 8-inch loaf. You can also use a tube pan to help shape the loaf. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment or Silpat. If desired, score an “x” on the top of the dough.
  4. Bake 45 minutes, until well-browned and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Serve with butter and your favorite jam or preserves.

About The Author
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Almanac Editors and Staff

Under the guiding hand of its first editor, Robert B. Thomas, the premiere issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 during George Washington’s first term as president.Today, the Almanac...
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Comments

<span>Janice</span> Sat, 03/06/2021 - 16:58
Many of your readers are on special diets (myself included). Please include nutritional information with all the recipes you provide. I can calculate this myself, but it would be so much nicer if your leprechauns would do this for us!
<span>Janet Bevelheimer</span> Tue, 03/17/2020 - 19:29
I have been making an Irish soda bread recipe for years from a family directly from Ireland. My husband told me last week he NEVER liked it! So, I tried YOUR recipe tonight...it was FABULOUS...so much better than what I've been making...thanks, Farmers almanac! Keep them coming!
<span>Robert Sewell</span> Wed, 03/13/2019 - 08:19
For buttermilk, try 1 Tbsp. lemon juice + milk to make 1 cup.
<span>Jonibee</span> Mon, 03/11/2019 - 09:20
Years ago a co worker gave me a recipe for Irish Soda bread it had the above ingredients except orange juice was used. I don't recall if the buttermilk was also used in it...Does anyone have a similar recipe for this wonderful Irish bread?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 03/13/2019 - 12:04

Hi, Jonibee. You could try following this recipe but add the juice and zest of one orange.

 <span>Lmy</span> Mon, 03/18/2013 - 01:51
We made this reciipe for St Patrick's Day. We used half white and half whole wheat flour. This is a good recipe for Irish Soda Bread. It is moist, light, and has just the right amount of raisins. It's so yummy I couldn't stop eating it!