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Recipe for Irish Soda Bread | Almanac.com

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread
Photo Credit
Laura Adamache/Shutterstock
Yield
1 loaf
Category
Bread
Course
Breads
Preparation Method
Bake
Sources
Yankee Magazine's Best New England Recipes

Irish Soda Bread
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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, sconelike loaf. Note that a 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!

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

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.

In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg. Add to dough; mix just until incorporated.

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.

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.

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Comments

Janice (not verified)

1 year 3 months ago

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!

Janet Bevelheimer (not verified)

2 years 3 months ago

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!

Robert Sewell (not verified)

3 years 3 months ago

For buttermilk, try 1 Tbsp. lemon juice + milk to make 1 cup.

jonibee (not verified)

3 years 3 months ago

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?