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Sliced Irish soda bread with raisins
5 from 21 votes

Irish Soda Bread

Everyone loves this easy recipe for Irish Soda Bread, made slightly sweet and extra tender with a few extra ingredients. It’s a traditional recipe, but better!
Author Diana
Servings 12 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • teaspoons salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter chilled
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup raisins or currants optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can bake this in a cast iron pan. Make the Dough: In a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl), combine flour with sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, and butter. Mix until the butter pieces are the size of a pea. Combine buttermilk with egg, and stir that in until a shaggy dough forms. Stir in the raisins and do not overmix the dough.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead to shape it into a tall ball about 7 inches in diameter. You may want to add more flour if the dough is sticky. Transfer the ball to a baking sheet, then score the dough ball with a sharp knife to create a cross or X in the center. The cuts should be about ¾ inch deep and 3 to 4 inches long.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes or until it’s golden brown and done. When you tap, you should hear a hollow sound and that’s how you know that the bread is done.
  • Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Video

Notes

  • Scoring the Bread is Important: If you don’t score an X into the bread before baking, the loaf won’t be able to rise as much and you’ll end up with a very dense final product.
  • For a More Traditional Flavor: Add about ¼ cup of caraway seeds into the dough! 
  • Buttermilk is Key: This is probably the most important ingredient. It’s what gives Irish soda bread that specific tangy and rich flavor that you love. Substitute with kefir if you have to.
  • To Make Buttermilk: Mix 1 ½ tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice with a scant 1 ½ cup of milk.
  • Don’t overmix: This is a delicate recipe that will not benefit from overmixing. Mix as little as possible, just to combine the ingredients to keep the soda bread light and fluffy. 

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 424mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 189IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg