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Best served slathered with plenty of Irish butter, Irish soda bread is the best way to start your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Whether you’re an occasional or avid bread baker, this quick bread is simple to create—the dough comes together in just 10 minutes. Keep it classic, or throw in mix-ins to add a sweet touch; this bread will please either way. Here’s everything you need to know:
The first step is to prep your oven and your skillet. Preheat the oven to 375°, grease a 10” ovenproof skillet with cooking spray, then line the bottom of the skillet with parchment paper so as to ensure the bread does not stick as it bakes.
Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients and add in the butter. Using either a pastry cutter or your hands, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is evenly incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg and, once combined, add the mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir the mixture until just combined, but be careful not to overmix as to avoid a flat, too-dense bread. Then, if you are using any fillings, add them into the mixture and fold in gently, taking care not to lose too much air.
Turn the dough out in the prepared skillet and score with an “X” across the top with a sharp knife. Brush the top of the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with the remaining sugar, if using.
Place the skillet into the heated oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes until a tester inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Another way to tell that the bread is done is to tap to top and listen for a hollow sound. Once the bread is done baking, remove it from the oven and set it aside for at least 10 minutes to cool before slicing and serving.
The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.
Irish soda bread is a quick bread that relies on a combination of baking soda (instead of yeast) and buttermilk to rise. It’s a fairly simple bread to create—if you enjoy baking, most likely you’ll already have the ingredients required ready in your pantry. While many Irish soda bread recipes include currants, very traditional Irish soda bread has no mix-ins at all. We’ve included options for a variety of mix-ins, so you can decide whether you’d rather go sweet or serve it up plain with some salty Irish butter.
This bread was made to be sliced and served with a healthy slab of butter. Use Irish butter if you really want to make this as traditional as possible, or add some homemade butter if you have any on hand.
Irish soda bread can dry out quickly, so it’s best to store this bread in an airtight container for around 2-3 days. If you want to freeze your bread, wait for it to cool to room temperature, wrap tightly in plastic wrap then foil, and place in the freezer for around 2 months.
all-purpose flour
plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided (optional)
baking soda
kosher salt
butter, diced and chilled
buttermilk
large egg, beaten
melted butter
Raisins, currants, or mini chocolate chips (optional)
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