Simple Irish Soda Bread Recipe You Can Make Today
Homemade Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is a quick bread that is easy to make. Originally it was made with baking soda, buttermilk and flour. It’s perfect to serve with soup or as a bread bowl for your favorite soups and on special occassions, like St. Patricks Day.
Serve this with your favorite potato soup or corned beef and cabbage dinner.
What is Irish Soda Bread?
Traditional Irish soda bread is a type of quick bread. It uses baking soda and baking powder as a leavening agent, instead of yeast.The bread has a delicious crusty exterior and soft interior that is dense and perfect side for soup and stews.
What Ingredients Are Needed?
flour
baking soda
baking powder
salt
sugar
buttermilk
All-purpose flour or whole wheat flour can be used to make Irish Soda Bread.
Baking soda is a crucial ingredient that reacts with buttermilk to provide the bread’s leavening.
Buttermilk adds moisture, flavor, and tenderness to the bread.
Salt enhances the flavor and helps control yeast growth.
How Do I Prepare the Dough?
To make the dought you will combine all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix. The buttermilk is then added and dough is combined until it’s a shaggy ball. You can use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix the dough into a more combined cohesive ball.
How Do I Bake the Irish Soda Bread?
PReheat your oven to 375°F. Line your prepared baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Shape the dough into a round or oblong shape. You can also shape into four small round balls, to make soup bowls. Bake the bread for 35-45 minutes (depending on size), until it’s golden brown. I check with a thermometer to make sure temp is 200°F inside the bread.
Variations and Mix-Ins Inclusions
Try adding currants, raisins, or caraway seeds to the dough for added flavor and texture.Use different types of flour in place of all purpose flour. You can use bread flour or whole wheat flour, to change the flavor and texture of the bread. Replace 1 cup of regular flour with these or even 1 cup of rye flour for more flavor.
You can add a sprinkle of sugar or a pinch of salt to the top of the bread before baking for extra flavor too.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve Irish Soda Bread warm, sliced and topped with butter or jam. Use slices of bread to made sandwiches or serve toasted alongside soup and stew. Add a slice of bread with a dollop of butter or sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Bake small loaves and cut out top to make bread bowls and serve soup inside.
Beyond Irish Soda Bread: More Homemade Bread Recipes
Have you tried making other types of homemade bread, such as white bread, cheese bread or brown bread?
Tips for Success
Use cold buttermilk to help the bread rise and give it a tender texture.
Make your own buttermilk with cold milk and a teaspoon of lemon juice, letting the mixture set for 2 minutes before adding into dough.
Don’t overmix the dough. Mix only until the dough comes together, otherwise you may have a dense and tough bread.
Use a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven to bake the bread for a crispy crust and a tender interior. A lined baking sheet works fine as well.
Traditional Irish Soda Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉
- Place parchmenet paper down on baking sheet. Or use silicone mat or a Dutch oven, your choice.
- In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients and mix together.
- Add buttermilk into the dough and mix.
- You will want to mix until the dough is shaggy and comes together. If still dry, add a little more milk.
- Pour the dough onto clean counter and mix together, until no more flour isn't mixed.
- Form the dough into a circle or oblong shape, your choice.
- You can cut into 4 pieces if you want to make bread bowls and shape them.
- Place dough onto baking sheet, separating if there are multiple pieces as they will rise and expand.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Check they are browned on the outside and if you have a thermometer, check that internal temp is 200℉
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