Easy Homemade Irish Soda Bread
This Easy Irish Soda Bread recipe is soft, tender, and perfectly crusty with simple pantry ingredients and no yeast required. It’s a classic quick bread that’s perfect with butter, jam, soups, and St. Patrick’s Day meals.
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Pastry cutter or fork
- baking sheet
- Parchment Paper:
- Sharp knife for scoring
Ingredients
- cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoon cold butter, cubed
- 1¾ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup raisins (optional)
- 1 tablespoon flour (for raisins)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Cut in butter Add the cold butter and cut it into the flour using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add raisins Toss raisins with 1 tablespoon flour and stir into the mixture.
- Add buttermilk Pour in buttermilk and gently mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Shape dough Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 8–10 times until it comes together. Shape into a round loaf.
- Score the bread Place dough on baking sheet and cut a deep X on top with a sharp knife.
- Bake Bake for 40–45 minutes until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool slightly Let cool for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- The dough should feel soft but slightly sticky. Add a little flour if too wet.
- For an extra golden crust, brush the loaf with a little buttermilk before baking.
- Soda bread tastes best the day it’s baked.