Best 7 Classic Irish Soda Bread Recipes

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In the realm of quick breads, Irish soda bread reigns supreme, boasting a rich history and a flavor profile that is both hearty and comforting. This iconic bread, a staple in Irish cuisine, is characterized by its dense, crumbly texture and slightly tangy flavor, attributed to the use of buttermilk and baking soda as leavening agents. While traditional Irish soda bread is often plain, there are numerous variations that incorporate various additions, such as raisins, oats, or caraway seeds, adding layers of flavor and texture. This article presents a collection of classic and innovative Irish soda bread recipes, each offering a unique twist on this beloved bread. From the simplicity of a basic soda bread to the indulgence of a chocolate chip-studded variation, these recipes cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, let these recipes guide you in creating a perfect loaf of Irish soda bread, a culinary treasure that is sure to impress family and friends alike.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

REAL TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD



Real Traditional Irish Soda Bread image

A recipe passed down through an Irish family for many generations contains none of the modern supplements like yeast or sugar. This is a simple, very effective recipe.

Provided by barry

Categories     Breakfast and Brunch     Breakfast Bread Recipes

Time 25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk

Steps:

  • Heat a heavy skillet, griddle, or cast-iron frying pan over medium-low heat.
  • Stir the flour and salt together in a bowl, and sift in the baking soda. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and pour in the buttermilk. Stir the mixture quickly together into a dough, and turn out onto a floured work surface. Knead the dough a few times, just until it comes together. Gently form the dough into a flattened, round cake about 1/2 inch thick, and cut the round into quarters with a floured knife.
  • Sprinkle a little bit of flour into the bottom of the hot skillet, and cook the wedges 6 to 8 minutes per side, until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 252 calories, Carbohydrate 50.6 g, Cholesterol 2.5 mg, Fat 1.2 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 8.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 380.2 mg, Sugar 3.1 g

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD



Traditional Irish Soda Bread image

While soda bread with add-ins like currants and caraway can be delicious, it's not at all authentic. In Ireland, soda bread tends to be plainer and more restrained. Here is a classic recipe adapted from Darina Allen, an Irish television personality and the owner of the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry. This soda bread is is best eaten still steaming from the oven, slathered with good salted Irish butter that melts on contact with your slice. It's a fine accompaniment to corned beef and cabbage, should you be making that dish this St. Paddy's Day. Or make this recipe all year long. That's how they do it in Ireland.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     brunch, easy

Time 1h

Yield 1 loaf, 8 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

450 grams all-purpose flour (about 3 1/2 cups)
3 grams fine sea salt (about 1/2 teaspoon)
4 grams baking soda (about 3/4 teaspoon)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, more as needed

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk. Using your hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be soft but not wet and sticky.
  • Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface. Wash and dry your hands. Knead the dough lightly for a few seconds, then pat the dough into a round about 1 1/2 inches thick. Place it on a buttered baking sheet and using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross in the center of the dough reaching out all the way to the sides.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees, and continue to bake until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the bread sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes longer. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 174, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 188 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams

CLASSIC IRISH SODA BREAD



Classic Irish Soda Bread image

This traditional Irish soda bread can be made with an assortment of mix-ins such as dried fruit and nuts, but I like it with a handful of raisins. -Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield 1 loaf (8 pieces).

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
2 large eggs, room temperature, divided use
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup raisins

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°. Whisk together first 5 ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, whisk together 1 egg and buttermilk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Stir in raisins., Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 6-8 times. Shape into a 6-1/2-in. round loaf; place on a greased baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, make a shallow cross in top of loaf. Whisk remaining egg; brush over top., Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 210 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 59mg cholesterol, Sodium 463mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD



Traditional Irish Soda Bread image

This makes a fairly dense, rustic (ugly, even) loaf of bread that is tasty and not sweet. It is crusty and rough on the outside, chewy inside. Nummy hot with lots of butter! Note: sometimes (depending on humidity etc) it takes a bit more than the 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk--just keep adding a little bit at a time until it all holds together as stated in the recipe.

Provided by Halcyon Eve

Categories     Quick Breads

Time 1h

Yield 1 loaf, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 4

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 -1 1/2 cup buttermilk

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Brush a baking sheet with melted butter or spray with non-stick spray.
  • Combine dry ingredients in a deep bowl. Gradually stir in 1 cup buttermilk, beating constantly, until dough is firm enough to be gathered into a ball. If dough crumbles, add up to 1/2 cup more buttermilk, 1 tbsp at a time, until it holds together.
  • Place on a lightly floured board and pat into an 8-inch flattened round loaf.
  • Place loaf on baking sheet and slash a 1/2-inch deep "X" into the top of the dough with a small, sharp knife.
  • Bake at 425 degrees F for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden.
  • Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 239.8, Fat 0.9, SaturatedFat 0.3, Cholesterol 1.2, Sodium 481.4, Carbohydrate 49.2, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 1.6, Protein 7.5

DELICIOUS IRISH SODA BREAD



DELICIOUS IRISH SODA BREAD image

An easy quick bread make with buttermilk and other simple ingredients. Delicious served warm with butter. A real treat!

Provided by Yvonne Pratt

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup raisins or currents

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Cut the cold butter into 1/4 inch cubes and add it to the flour mixture.
  • Using a pastry cutter or your hands work the butter into the flour until it resembles course pea-size pieces.
  • Add raisins or currant to the flour/butter mixture.
  • Make a well in the mixture and pour the buttermilk into the flour/butter mixture.
  • Stir it with a fork until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
  • Turn the dough onto a floured worksurface and gently kneed into a ball.
  • Form the ball into a 6-7 inch circle.
  • Cut an X on the top of the dough about 1 inch deep.
  • Bake on a baking sheet or in a cast iron skillet about 35-40 minutes until golden brown.
  • Cool a bit on a wire rack before serving with butter, honey or jam.

TRADITIONAL IRISH CURRANT SODA BREAD



Traditional Irish Currant Soda Bread image

This traditional Irish soda bread is served warm with lots of butter to accompany your cornbeef and cabbage boiled dinner. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Provided by Gingerbee

Categories     Quick Breads

Time 1h5m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 cups sifted flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dry currants
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons sugar (for glaze)
2 tablespoons hot water (for glaze)

Steps:

  • Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Stir in currants and milk.
  • Combine until well blended.
  • Dough will be sticky.
  • Turn out onto floured board and knead 10 times, until smooth.
  • Shape into an 8" round loaf.
  • Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Cut an"X" with a knife into the top of the loaf.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
  • Remove from oven; pour sugar and water glaze over the top and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 268.5, Fat 0.9, SaturatedFat 0.3, Cholesterol 1.6, Sodium 292.1, Carbohydrate 59, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 22.1, Protein 6.9

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD



Traditional Irish Soda Bread image

Make and share this Traditional Irish Soda Bread recipe from Food.com.

Provided by zoo66

Categories     Breads

Time 50m

Yield 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 4

4 cups pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
14 ounces buttermilk

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F degrees. Place a large cast iron dutch oven with lid into the oven as it preheats.
  • In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients.
  • Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape).
  • Shape into a round flat to fit into the dutch oven and cut a cross in the top of the dough. Place dough on a large sheet of parchment paper.
  • Carefully remove the dutch oven from the preheated oven and remove lid. Gather parchment paper by the edges and lift to place the loaf and parchment together into the dutch oven and cover with the lid.
  • Bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped so show it is done.
  • Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to keep the bread moist.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2143.8, Fat 8.2, SaturatedFat 2.9, Cholesterol 16, Sodium 4015, Carbohydrate 446.8, Fiber 9.3, Sugar 20.9, Protein 58.2

Tips:

  • Use buttermilk that is at room temperature. This will help the soda bread rise properly.
  • Do not overmix the dough. Overmixing will make the bread tough.
  • Handle the dough gently. Rough handling will make the bread dense.
  • Score the top of the dough before baking. This will help the bread rise evenly.
  • Bake the bread in a preheated oven. This will help the bread develop a golden-brown crust.
  • Let the bread cool completely before slicing. This will help prevent the bread from crumbling.

Conclusion:

Classic Irish soda bread is a delicious and easy-to-make bread that is perfect for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and rustic charm, this bread is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying bread, give classic Irish soda bread a try. You won't be disappointed!

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