5 from 12 votes
Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread is a hearty quick bread that combines all-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, buttermilk, egg, and raisins for a traditional, slightly sweet loaf. The dough is prepared by cutting cold butter into the flour mixture and mixing with buttermilk and egg to form a shaggy dough. Raisins are coated in flour to prevent sinking before folding into the batter. Baked in a dutch oven or skillet, the bread forms a golden crust with a tender crumb inside. It is a reliable bread with a classic texture and flavor profile.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings:
8
Pieces
Calories:
396 kcal
Course:
Bread, Baked Goods
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar granulated white
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 4 tablespoons butter cold, cut into small pieces, unsalted
- 1 ¾ cups buttermilk cold, shaken
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheitt. Line a dutch oven with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray. You can also use a cast iron skillet or a cookie sheet.
- In a large mixing bowl add flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir until combined.
- Place the raisins in a medium bowl and add about 2 teaspoons flour mixture. Mix to coat the raisins to help keep them from falling to the bottom of the bread.
- Using a pastry blender to cut in cold butter into the flour mixture. The dough has a lot of flour but you're looking for the butter pieces to be about the same size as regular blueberries (not jumbo blueberries!)
- In a second medium bowl, combine buttermilk and egg, Beat the mixture lightly with a fork until the egg yolk cracks and mixes in.
- Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Fold raisins into the dough. Stop mixing when the dough just begins to feel too stiff to mix.
- Flour a clean counter or surface heavily. Work with about half of the dough and knead the dough, adding flour as you go until the dough is not sticky. The dough will feel crumbly at first but then will become smooth as you knead for about thirty to forty five seconds. Move to the second half of the dough to knead that piece also for thirty to forty five seconds. Form the two dough balls into a singe ball.
- Place the dough ball in the dutch oven or on the pan. Using a sharp knife, make an X slice on the top of the bread. This will score the top and allow the bread to expand easier without cracking.
- Bake for about 45-55 minutes. Bread will be golden brown on the outside and seems cooked all the way through in the middle in the center of the loaf. You can also use a digital thermometer, the bread is cooked all the way through when it registers about 195 degrees. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then slice and enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Coat the raisins with a little flour before adding to the dough to keep them from sinking to the bottom while baking.
- If the bread crust browns too quickly, loosely cover the top with aluminum foil partway through baking to prevent burning.
- Use cold butter cut into small pieces to create a tender crumb texture.
- Baking in a dutch oven, cast iron skillet, or on a cookie sheet lined with parchment helps shape and bake the bread evenly.
Nutrition Information
Calories
396kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
71g
(24%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Trans Fat
0.2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
44mg
(15%)
Sodium
644mg
(27%)
Potassium
298mg
(6%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
9g
(18%)
Vitamin A
295IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
80mg
(8%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 Pieces
Amount Per Serving
Calories 396
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 396kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 71g | 24% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 44mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 644mg | 27% |
| Potassium | 298mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 295IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 80mg | 8% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.