Irish Soda Bread

Made with a few simple ingredients, like flour, baking soda, sugar, and buttermilk, Irish Soda Bread is a great introduction to baking bread. It’s a rustic and dense bread that’s paired perfectly with soup!

IRISH SODA BREAD

I’ve made this bread a few times and it always turns out perfectly. I’m just not sure why I only ever make it around St. Patrick’s Day. Maybe it’s because it’s Irish. Maybe it’s because soda bread is a non-spoken requirement for all bloggers during this time of year.

If you’re new to baking bread, you should certainly start with this one! There are a few reasons why. First, there are very few ingredients. Second, those ingredients are cheap. And, third, you can practice your kneading skills.

Irish Soda bread consists of only five ingredients. You’ll need flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. Now, in most homes, the only ingredient you’ll need to buy is the buttermilk. Most homes will already have the other ingredients in the pantry.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Flour – No need for anything special. Just use regular all-purpose flour. I have not tried this recipe with any other type of flour.
• Sugar – Sugar will caramelize when baked, which will help to brown cookies and cakes. 
• Baking Soda – Commonly known as sodium bicarbonate, or just bicarb, it is a baking ingredient that’s activated by a liquid and an acid to help with leavening or rising.  In most cases, you will see baking soda in recipes with lemon juice or buttermilk, but that’s not always the case.
• Salt – This is a common ingredient in baking and cooking.  In baking it helps to enhance and balance sweetness. 
• Buttermilk – Store-bought is best for this recipe, because it’s already much thicker than homemade, but this recipe will work with homemade buttermilk too. I find that store-bought has more authentic buttermilk flavour.

ADDING INGREDIENTS TO SODA BREAD

The great thing about soda bread is that you can add things to it. The recipe below is a basic version, which is a great place to start. If you plan to serve the bread with soup, keep it simple.

You can add raisins or currants to the bread. I’ve seen this bread with nuts and seeds mixed in. I’ve also seen it with candied fruit, dried ginger, and even fresh orange zest.

If you plan to add anything, keep the amounts low. For a recipe like mine, I would not add more than a half cup of add-ins. If you add too much, there won’t be enough “bread” to hold the add-ins together!

HOW TO MAKE IRISH SODA BREAD

Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar. Pour in the buttermilk and stir together with a fork until buttermilk has been absorbed into the flour mixture.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface. Knead together to form a rustic oval shape. Do not need more than 30 seconds! Place oval on baking sheet and score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.

CONCLUSION:

For the past few years, I’ve always followed this recipe. I’ve tried others, but this was the best one for me. There are some other great recipes out there. You can even try to follow the original from 1836 if you want!

Before you get to the recipe, there’s just one more thing. Irish Soda Bread is meant to be eaten right away. Don’t think about making this bread a day or two in advance. It will dry out and become hard. For best results, bake it the same day you plan to eat it.

And, if there are any leftover slices, use them for breakfast the next day. I love this bread toasted with a good smear of salted butter. Yum!