Whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day or just craving an Irish treat, you're sure to enjoy sinking your teeth into a thick slice of Irish soda bread slathered in butter and jam. Made without yeast, Irish soda bread uses baking soda as the leavening agent and does not need time to rise. Quick and easy, this Irish soda bread recipe requires less than one hour from start to finish.
Things You'll Need
Olive oil or cooking spray
4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt
1 Tbsp. caraway seeds
1 cup raisins or currants, rinsed in hot water and patted dry
2 1/4 cups buttermilk
Video of the Day
1. Combine the dry ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a large baking sheet using olive oil or cooking spray. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
Video of the Day
Use unexpired baking soda and baking powder. If either/both of these ingredients are expired, the bread will not rise the way it is meant to.
Tip
Instead of bread flour, you can use regular all-purpose flour. For a gluten-free Irish soda bread, use gluten-free all-purpose flour.
Warning
Be sure to use unexpired baking soda and baking powder. If either of these ingredients is expired, the bread will not rise the way it is meant to.
Add the raisins and caraway seeds and stir well to combine.
Tip
Soaking the raisins in hot water for a minute or so results in sweet, plump raisins, which taste great in this bread. Be sure to pat the raisins dry prior to adding them to the flour mixture or else the liquid portion may be slightly off.
2. Add the buttermilk
Create a well in the center of the flour mixture.
Pour the buttermilk into the well.
3. Form the dough
Stir the buttermilk into the flour mixture, starting in the center and working your way to the outside of the bowl until a dough forms. If needed, add additional buttermilk (2 tablespoons at a time) to form the dough.
4. Knead the dough
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 1 minute. Form a large disc out of the dough.
5. Cut and separate the dough
Cut the dough in half with a knife. With floured hands, form two small discs out of the dough.
Using a serrated knife, cut a 1/4-inch-deep "X" into each disc of dough.
6. Bake the dough
Place both discs of dough on the lightly oiled baking sheet. Be sure to place the discs far apart, as they will rise while baking.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread tests clean when poked with a knife. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes.
Try some Irish soda bread variations!
If you've already tried the traditional Irish soda bread recipe, next time you make it, try changing up the flavors:
- Add your favorite dried herbs, such as a combination of rosemary, thyme, and basil.
- Add up to 1 cup of grated cheese, such as Gruyere, Parmesan, Asiago, or others.
- Omit the raisins or replace them with dried cranberries.
Add any additional ingredients to the flour mixture prior to adding the buttermilk.
7. Slice the bread
Place the bread on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut slices that are 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick.
Slather with butter and/or jam and enjoy alongside your favorite entree!
