Irish Soda Bread is quick, easy and comes together in just 1 hour. Make it sweet, plain or savory- the choice is yours!
Alright folks. First off, I just want to say, this is NOT a traditional recipe for Irish soda bread.
What is traditional Irish soda bread?
A quick bread made from the most basic of ingredients: flour, baking soda (instead of yeast), sour milk, and salt. Before baking, a cross was cut on the top to ward off the devil and protect the household. Because of it’s perishable nature, it was generally eaten within 2-3 days.
This recipe contains more than four ingredients. My version is like the soda bread you find in restaurants and stores nowadays. It’s slightly sweeter with a soft texture.
Irish soda bread is made with all-purpose flour, however, you can swap out a cup of all-purpose for rye flour. This is especially good when using caraway seeds.
As far as add-ins or mix-ins go, there are three options:
- Sweet: with additional sugar in the loaf and on top, as well as raisins/currants and orange zest.
- Savory: rye plus caraway seeds.
- Plain: just a simple loaf.
You can also get really non-traditional and mix in Irish cheddar and chopped chives. It’s totally up to you!
To make the dough, you’ll start by whisking together 3 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 3-4 tablespoons of sugar (depending on how sweet you want it based on what you’re adding to it). Whisk in add-ins if desired.
Next, whisk together the wet ingredients: 2 tablespoons of melted butter, ½ cup of buttermilk, 1 cup of sour cream, and 2 large eggs. It’s best if these ingredients are at room temperature. To speed the process along you can use a microwave on half power or for the eggs, you can let them soak in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. I used my handy dough whisk to bring it together, you can use your hands too. DO NOT OVERMIX. Overmixing will create a tough, dense dough, which is really easy to do when yeast isn’t involved.
Turn the dough onto a very lightly floured surface and knead just a few times to create a rough loaf. It will be slightly moist and shaggy. Transfer to a piece of parchment paper.
Use a sharp knife to cut a deep X in the top of the loaf. You will want to go down at least 1 inch beneath the surface. This will allow heat to reach the center of the loaf and help it expand/rise as it bakes.
Brush with extra butter/buttermilk for a crisp, shiny crust. Sprinkle with additional sugar if you’re going the sweet route.
What should you bake Irish soda bread in?
A large cast iron skillet or a large dutch oven is best because of how they conduct heat. However, baking it on top of a cookie sheet works too!
Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until the center is fully cooked.
Allow the bread to rest for 10 minutes before transferring it onto a wire rack to cool for an additional 10 minutes. Cut and serve immediately.
We slathered ours with Kerrygold butter (the best!) and enjoyed eating it alongside shepherd’s pie. It was absolutely delicious!!
LOOKING FOR MORE EASY BREAD RECIPES? TRY THESE:
- 4-Ingredient No-Knead Artisan Bread
- 1 Hour Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls
- The Best Buttermilk Cornbread
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Easy Homemade Crescent Rolls
Need more recipes? Subscribe to my email list! Simply enter your email in a subscription box located on the right hand side of the blog or scroll below the recipe and sign up there. You’ll receive posts, newsletters and so much more!
BE SURE TO FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & PINTEREST!
Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3- 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour*
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt
- 3-4 tbsp granulated sugar**
- 2 tbsp butter - melted
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whisk in add-ins, if desired.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the butter, sour cream, buttermilk, and eggs.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, using a whisk, large fork, or your hands, mix just until combined. Take care not to overmix. The dough should be slightly tacky but with small visible streaks of flour. If the dough is too tacky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until the correct consistency has been reached.
- Turn the dough onto a very lightly floured surface. Gently knead a few times to form a round, shaggy loaf. Transfer it to a piece of parchment paper.
- Using a sharp knife, score a deep X into the top of the loaf. It should be about 1-inch in depth.
- Brush with topping, add extra sugar if desired. Place in a large cast iron skillet or dutch oven, or set on a cookie sheet.
- Place in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until the center of the loaf is fully baked.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool for an additional 10 minutes. Cut and serve within 3 days.
Can’t believe how quick this was from start to finish! We love trying new breads & this one was a hit with the family! Excited to add different things each time!