This Irish soda bread is a quick and easy recipe that creates a loaf of bread that is as delicious as it is beautiful!
If you have never tried baking an Irish Soda bread, it should be a definite must in your near future. With few ingredients, you’ll be able to whip one up daily! Irish soda bread is dense with a soft interior and crusty exterior. It is best eaten warm right out of the oven slathered with butter. Try serving it with jam alongside a cup of tea or with a steaming bowl of soup or hearty stew.
History
It’s funny that Irish Soda Bread is considered a popular Irish dish and celebrated internationally especially at St. Patrick’s time. In reality, they didn’t even invent it! Who knew! According to Trafalgar it was actually first created by Native Americans. They were using pearl ash, a natural form of soda formed from the ashes of wood, to leaven their bread without yeast. Irish wheat, called “soft” wheat, did not rise with yeast so they started using the Native American method in the 1830’s. Baking soda (a leavening agent) reacts with the sour milk (buttermilk) creating a rise that mimic’s yeast.
Traditional or Authentic Irish Soda bread consists of 4 ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and sour milk (buttermilk) It does not have add-ins like currents, raisins or caraway, nor egg, butter and sugar. Those ingredients started with Irish Americans.
Another interesting fact: Northern regions divide the bread into 4 triangles and cook them individually on a flat top, while the Southern bake in a classic round shape with a cross on top (to let fairies out and protect the household.
The Method Of Irish Soda Bread
Unfortunately, my Irish immigrant baking family never handed down any recipes (stating that with a sigh of angst!). This is the family bakery in downtown Albany, New York after immigrating from Northern Ireland via Rutland, Vermont. I researched many recipes for Irish Soda Bread and took components from several and came up with this recipe. It is not authentic, but really tasty!
Ingredients:
- flour
- sugar
- baking soda
- salt
- butter
- buttermilk
- egg
Directions:
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees with a greased large cast iron skillet inside.
- Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Cut in the butter until incorporated.
- Create a well in the flour mixture. Lightly whisk the egg with a fork and add it along with the buttermilk to the well.
- Stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate.
- Remove dough to a floured surface and knead. Form into a classic round shape.
- Make a cross in the top of the dough.
- Transfer the dough to the hot cast iron skillet being VERY CAREFUL not to burn yourself.
- Turn oven down to 375 degrees and bake 40 minutes or until a brown and crusty and a toothpick comes out clean.
Cook’s Notes:
By all means try the authentic Irish soda bread with the 4 ingredients OR embellish it with raisins, currents or caraway! I bet spring onions would be a yummy addition too!
I have seen recipes for baking this on a sheet pan, but I highly recommend the cast iron skillet.
If you don’t have buttermilk, it is real easy to make. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of milk. You can also use Kefir.
Wrapping a clean kitchen cloth around the bread when it comes out of the oven will keep the crust from getting too hard.
The Essentials:
If you make this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars!
Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread is a super quick and easy bread to bake using few ingredients but big in flavor!
- medium cast iron skillet
- medium mixing bowl
- pastry blender
- Whisk
- small prep bowl
- Measuring cup
- wooden spoon
- paring knife
- shortening or oil (to grease skillet)
- 4 1/4 cups flour, plus more for dusting
- 3 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 tbsp butter (diced into cubes)
- 1 egg (whisked)
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees with greased skillet inside.
Add flour, sugar, baking soda and salt to mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
Cut the butter into the flour with pastry cutter or 2 knives.
Create a well in the center of the dough. Add the egg and buttermilk. Mix with a wooden spoon until the dough starts to form.
Dust a surface with flour, pour your dough out and knead. Once combined form a rounded shape. Using a sharp knife, mark it with a cross on top.
Carefully place the bread in the heated cast iron skillet, turn down the oven to 375 degrees and bake 40 minutes or until golden and crusty and a toothpick comes out clean.
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