If you love classic Irish soda bread but want something easier, faster, and perfectly portioned, these Irish Soda Bread Scones are for you. With crisp golden edges, a soft tender crumb, and sweet pops of raisins, this easy scone recipe delivers all the traditional flavor in a beautifully rustic bakery-style treat.
💕 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No yeast, no rising time
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- Crispy edges with soft fluffy centers
- Perfect for brunch, tea, or St. Patrick’s Day
- Freezer-friendly
- Rustic and bakery-beautiful
If you love this recipe you'll also need to try my Irish Soda Bread Pudding with Warm Vanilla Whiskey Sauce
Ingredients:
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Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in raisins.
- Mix buttermilk and vanilla together. Pour into dry mixture and stir gently until just combined.
- Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and gently form into a 1-inch thick circle.
- Cut into 8 wedges and place on baking sheet.
- Brush tops lightly with buttermilk and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake 14–16 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool slightly and serve warm with butter or jam.
Helpful Tips & Tricks:
- Don’t overmix, that’s the secret to tender scones.
- Keep butter very cold for best texture.
- Freeze butter and grate it in for ultra-flaky results.
- If dough feels dry, add buttermilk 1 tablespoon at a time.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips:
- Store covered at room temperature for 2 days.
- Refrigerate up to 5 days.
- Freeze baked scones up to 3 months.
- Freeze unbaked wedges and bake straight from frozen (add 2–3 minutes).
FAQ's:
- Can I make my own buttermilk?
- Yes! Mix ¾ cup milk with 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit 5 minutes.
- Why are my scones dense?
- Usually overmixing or too much flour.
- Can I skip the sugar?
- Yes, they’ll taste more like traditional soda bread.
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap raisins for dried cranberries.
- Add orange zest for brightness.
- Stir in white chocolate chips for a fun twist.
- Make savory: skip sugar and raisins, add shredded cheddar and chives.
Recent Recipes:
Irish Soda Bread Scones
Buttery Irish soda bread scones made with buttermilk and raisins. A quick, easy bakery-style twist on traditional Irish soda bread perfect for brunch or St. Patrick’s Day.
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Pastry cutter (pastry blender)
- Bench scraper or sharp knife
- pastry brush
- cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ¾ cup buttermilk (plus 1 tablespoon if needed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup raisins or currants
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (optional topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in raisins.
- Mix buttermilk and vanilla together. Pour into dry mixture and stir gently until just combined.
- Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and gently form into a 1-inch thick circle.
- Cut into 8 wedges and place on baking sheet.
- Brush tops lightly with buttermilk and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake 14–16 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool slightly and serve warm with butter or jam.
Notes
🍀 Serving Ideas
- Serve warm with salted butter
- Drizzle with honey
- Pair with clotted cream and jam
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Add to a brunch board with fruit and tea
Just in case you've never heard of clotted cream: -
Clotted cream is a rich, thick cream that comes from British cuisine, traditionally served with scones, jam, and tea. It has a silky, spreadable texture that’s thicker than whipped cream but softer than butter.
