How to Make Irish Soda Bread

A Traditional, Easy Quick Bread Recipe

Sep 24, 2008 Nicole Wills

Irish soda bread hot from the oven is a true pleasure. Since it's a quick bread, it's fast and easy to throw together, unlike most bread recipes.

Moist, dense, and absolutely delicious, Irish soda bread is a hearty and easy-to-make alternative to yeast breads. It dates back to the 1840s, when bicarbonate of soda was introduced to Ireland, according to Peter Ciullo, author of Saleratus: The Curious History & Complete Uses of Baking Soda. Because it was inexpensive, easy to make, and tasty, it quickly became a staple in Irish households. For the same reasons, it's a great bread for novice and expert bread bakers alike.

Irish Soda Bread Ingredients:

Makes two loaves

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit.
  2. Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and cardamom in a large bowl.
  3. Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the butter and dry mixture is crumbly.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat the egg slightly and mix with the buttermilk.
  5. Stir the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients and mix until blended.
  6. Turn out the dough on a floured surface and knead until smooth, about two to three minutes.
  7. Divide the dough in half and shape into smooth, round loaves. Put each round of dough into a greased 8” pie or cake pan.
  8. Press down on the dough until the dough fills the pan. Use a floured knife to slice a 1/2” deep cross in the top of the dough.
  9. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until the bread is cooked through and a light golden crust has formed.

A Note on Buttermilk

If no buttermilk is handy, one can make an easy substitution by mixing the 1 ¾ cups of milk with a small amount of lemon juice or vinegar. Approximately one or two teaspoons of the acid will be needed. Add a small amount into the milk at a time, mixing with a spoon. When the milk begins to curdle and thicken and cling to the spoon when the spoon is lifted out of the mixture, the mixture is ready.

Serving Suggestions

Irish Soda Bread is absolutely delicious still warm out of the oven, lightly buttered. Try it with a little honey for a sweet treat. Irish soda bread goes stale within a few days, so enjoy it quickly after baking. If it starts to go stale, it can be revived by heating it briefly in the microwave, but eat it while it's still hot!

Suggested Variations

Try adding dried currants, raisins, or even nuts and chocolate chips to Irish soda bread for a special treat. This moist, dense bread adapts to most breakfast flavors beautifully.

The copyright of the article How to Make Irish Soda Bread in Baking & Desserts is owned by Nicole Wills. Permission to republish How to Make Irish Soda Bread in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

Oct 12, 2009 7:51 PM
Guest :
This was my first time making bread ever, and without buttermilk to boot- had to use the vinegar + milk trick and substituted nutmeg for cardamom, but WOW! My family couldn't stop gushing about it and have already begged me for more.
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