St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. It’s time to get those dishes ready for a wonderful day of comfort food and dark beer! Traditional Irish soda bread is dense, easy to make and slightly sweet. Added as a side to Irish stew, soda bread pairs well with strawberry jam and completes the traditional Irish meal.
What is Irish Soda Bread?
Irish soda bread is made with flour, salt, baking soda, currants or raisins, and buttermilk. Soda bread gets its name from the added baking soda combined with the acidity in the buttermilk, which helps the bread rise.
This freshly baked bread really only lasts a day or two, so it’s best made fresh with the meal like corned beef and cabbage. If you’re planning on making it for St. Patrick’s Day, I would advise baking it the night before or the morning of the celebration.
This bread can be frozen for a few months, in an airtight container or plastic wrap. Just like any other bread, Irish soda bread tastes great warmed up, with butter and jam!
>>>Related: Spiced Plum Jam Recipe
How to Bake the Bread
I love how simple Irish soda bread is to make. This bread can be baked immediately and doesn’t need to rise. It is also the same at sea level as it is at altitude (which is a huge plus for us high altitude people!) So anyone can bake this!
>>Related: No Knead Beer Bread
Low Sugar!
Many recipes call for a lot of sugar, however, this recipe only contains a tablespoon. I prefer to make bread that isn’t too sweet, especially if you’re adding raisins or topped with homemade strawberry jam.
This delicious recipe can be baked in a cast iron Dutch oven, a deep pan, or place it on a baking sheet. Be sure to bake it until the outside is golden brown. The inside will be soft and delicious.
Let the bread cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!
WANT RECIPES THAT PAIR WELL? Check out this delicious Irish Stew Recipe. You may also enjoy this Freshly Churned Butter Recipe and Homemade Strawberry Jam.
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Irish Soda Bread
Simple, delicious and hearty, this bread is perfect for your Irish celebrations. Pair it with strawberry jam as a side to Irish stew!
Ingredients
- 4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Baking Soda
- 4 Tbsp Butter Cold and grated
- 1 3/4 Cup Buttermilk Chilled and shaken
- 1 Egg Lightly Beaten Extra Large
- 1 Cup Raisins or Currants
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet with parchment paper or butter and flour your cast iron pan.
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Whisk together flour sugar, salt and baking soda until thoroughly combined.
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With your hands or a wooden spoon, add butter and work into flour mixture until course crumbs are formed. Add raisins or currants to the mixture.
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Create a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the buttermilk and the beaten egg. Use a wooden spoon to combine ingredients until a course dough forms.
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On a lightly floured surface, knead dough a few times until workable enough to shape into a round loaf. Do not knead dough too long or the bread will end up tough. Knead just long enough to create a round loaf. Place on pan with parchment paper or in a cast iron dutch oven or deep pan.
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Using a serrated bread knife, lightly cut an X into the top of the loaf.
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Bake for about 45 minutes. It may take a shorter amount of time on a baking sheet and a bit longer in a cast iron dutch oven. Bread will be done when a baking tester comer out clean and tapping on the bottom of the loaf makes a “hollow” sound.
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Place on a baking rack to cool. Serve warm with butter and strawberry jam.
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