4.5 from 6 votes
Irish Soda Bread
This Irish Soda bread is the best you'll ever eat! Light, slightly sweet, hearty and delicious, this buttermilk bread recipe is a no-yeast, no-knead, quick bread studded with raisins.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 318 kcal
Course:
Baked Goods
Cuisine:
Irish
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon to coat the raisins or currants
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt I prefer kosher or sea salt
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2-inch dice (1/2 stick)
- 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 cup raisins golden raisins or currants (or a combination)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the baking pan, you can use a sheet pan or a seasoned 10 - 12 inch cast iron skillet lined with parchment paper. You can also use a greased 9 - 10 inch cake pan.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the 4 cups of flour, the sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
- With a fork, lightly whisk the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture.
- Combine the raisins or currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. The dough will be very wet.
- Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and with floured hands, knead the dough a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan (cast iron skillet or baking pan) and with a sharp knife score an X into the top of the bread.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool on a baking rack. Serve warm, at room temperature or toasted. Serve it by itself, with butter or your favorite topping.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Don't overwork the dough.
- Always score the top of the bread so the heat reaches the center of the loaf while it bakes.
- Soda bread dries out quickly however, it can be made 1 to 3 days ahead. To store it, wrap it tightly or place it in an air tight container to keep it fresh.
- You can freeze soda bread tightly wrapped for up to 3 months.
- This recipe for Irish soda bread calls for raisins or currants, however you can use dried cranberries if you prefer.
- Some Irish soda bread recipes use caraway seeds. Caraway seeds have an anise/licorice flavor and are a great addition to this Irish bread.
- Soda bread can be baked on a sheet pan, a baking pan, on a cast iron skillet and even in a Dutch oven.
Nutrition Information
Calories
318kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
56g
(19%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
38mg
(13%)
Sodium
556mg
(23%)
Potassium
238mg
(7%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
240IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
64mg
(6%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 318
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 318kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 56g | 19% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 38mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 556mg | 23% |
| Potassium | 238mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 240IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 64mg | 6% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.