Would you believe me if I told you that I had never partook in a slice of Irish Soda Bread until I cooked up this recipe? I tell ya, this is what I love about food blogging. It forces you to get out of your rut, off your behind, and into your kitchen. It causes you to read Food and Wine, watch The Food Network and browse through your Citipass coupon book for recipe ideas while waiting for your child to finish up a class (Oh yes, guilty as charged. I can tell you with complete confidence that at least a handful of recipes I’ve shared on this blog have been inspired by my child’s annual school fundraiser). And you thought it was all about the coupons.
But back to the topic at hand. Irish soda bread. Why I haven’t cooked up a loaf of this bread sooner is beyond me. It’s quick to make; think no waiting for the yeast to rise. It”s easy enough for even an amateur bread maker to put together; it’s about as simple as mixing together the ingredients, forming it into a ball, and baking it. And the final result is a moist, flavorful bread that tastes like you spent the entire afternoon pouring your heart and soul into it. What’s not to love?
Traditional Irish soda bread consists of four main ingredients; Flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. That’s all there is to it. Most recipes these days fancy it up a bit with fruit, sugar, and the like. This version is no different. I added a little honey for sweetness and some caraway seeds just because. Do we really have to save this recipe for St. Patrick’s day? Because I could easily see this bread becoming a staple in our house.
Let’s get baking.
Start off by grabbing yourself a bowl and filling it with your dry goods.
Now add in any mixers you’d like to include. In my case I threw in some caraway seeds in order to get a hint of that rye bread flavor I so love.
Stir is all together and then add in your wet ingredients. Mix it until just combined and pour in a bit of melted butter. There’s just something about bread and butter that works.
Mix the butter into the dough and form a nice round dough ball. The less kneading the better with this bread. You don’t want to over mix it or you’ll get a tough loaf. The less you “knead” the bread, the more you’ll “need” another slice. Ok, let’s all give a collective groan. That line was so bad it was good. Sometimes I truly crack myself up.
Work the dough until your ingredients are good and mixed and you have a nice soft dough. Form the dough into a ball and cut a few slits in the dough to allow the center of the bread too release steam and bake more efficiently. I didn’t show it in this picture, but I cut a plus sign about an inch deep over the top of the ball. It’s ok if your ball is a bit “rugged” looking.
Place your dough on a baking dish and pop it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes to an hour. If the top is starting to get a darker brown than you’d like, simply lay a sheet of aluminum foil loosely over the top of it to prevent it from burning.
And here’s the finished loaf fresh out of the oven. That is one beautiful hunk of bread.
So what are you waiting for? Head to your kitchen, cook up a loaf, grab a slice and celebrate the Irish. Or the fact that it’s Monday. Or the fact that you wore pink socks.
Irish Soda Bread
Total Time: 1 hour 10 min
Ingredients:
4-3/4 cups Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Caraway Seeds
3 Tbsp Honey
1 Egg
1-1/2 cups Buttermilk
4 Tbsp Butter, Melted
Directions:
To a bowl add together your dry ingredients; the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix well.
Add in the caraway seed and combine.
Now add in the honey, egg, and buttermilk. Stir it up until a dough just begins to form.
Add in the melted butter and knead dough until all ingredients are combined. Don't overknead.
Form into a ball and cut a few 1" slits at the top.
Place dough on a baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 50 min. to an hour.
Test with a toothpick in the center to assure loaf is cooked completely.
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It looks so crusty, in a good way! 🙂 Like it would be perfect with the right kind of soup!
I’m heading out on vacation today, so I won’t be able to check your bananas foster french toast pictures/recipe for a few days, but it will make coming home just a tad easier knowing that it will be waiting for me! 🙂
What a great looking rustic artisan bread. You inspire me to try my hand at this soon. It’s lovely!
Love Irish Soda Bread, this looks wonderful. It should be on the table far more often than just St Paddy’s day!
This looks really good, I haven’t had it ever either, but the fact that it is so easy–now it’s onmy to do list! thanks, julie, anne
I love this bread!!! My husband loves it with raisins. We had an Irish friend in MA who’s mom did the best Irish bread! Can this one be done with raisins?
Never had it before! Looks delicious 🙂
Nice! I love quickbreads that don’t have rising time. If I have caraway seeds on hand, I think I have to make this tonight. If not, over the weekend when I’m visiting my sister. Yum!!!
Great looking soda bread, perfectly crusty and delicious!
I don’t think I’ve ever had irish soda bread myself. Now I’m really tempted to try your recipe, just so I can see what it tastes like.
I am so disorganized…my Irish meal is going to be made and cooked on the 17th….none of this wonderful pre St. Patrick’s day posts for me. I adore soda bread and have to be careful to only make it when I know my family will be around to help me eat it (of course it doesn’t help that my recipe makes 2 loaves and I always double it!!) I agree, there are so many great foods that I have started making because of blogging. Your loaf of bread looks delicious!
This is in my oven now! Happy St. Pat’s Day!
What a beautiful looking rustic bread.Love the way it has cracked open while baking.I am pretty lame at bread making so I m in awe of your post:) Happy St Patrick’s day!
My loaf is in the oven as I type this… can’t wait to try it!
I’ve never made Irish soda bread, but this looks super yummy!
That bread is gorgeous. I don’t know why we should save this recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, I never think to make this during the year and I don’t know why, it’s so good.
hmm so delicious
i want it
I have never tried that bread either, but looking at this I will put it in my future things to do!
Yum! We are big bread eaters in this house. I’ll definitely give this one a try.
I love Irish soda bread and should make a loaf real soon to go with our corned beef and cabbage. Definitely add the carawy seeds. I like the slightly anise flavor it gives off.
Guess what we’re posting tomorrow! And making on TV on Thursday. Great minds babe!
That looks delicious. I once had a friend who was Irish and while I’m not sure what she put in it but she baked it by cooking it on a griddle. I’ve always wanted to try that but have never found a recipe that calls for baking it like that.
Does it have to be genuine buttermilk or would “soured” milk do?
BTW love the new site design. I’m usually just reading via email and so I missed the changes. 🙂
Thanks for posting! I was thinking of making some for St. P’s day this year.
this look so good:) thank you for sharing this post with us. have a great day.
I had Irish Soda Bread for the first time last year…I am afraid to make it myself because it was so good…and I bet yours rocks!
I do love this rustic little bread. Irish Soda Bread is such a great old standard but I’d totally forgotten about it till I saw it being blogged about…, must make it again soon.
I make Irish Soda Bread every year, my family loves it. I add golden raisins and dark raisins to mine.
This looks great! I was planning on making some Soda Bread tomorrow…I think I’ll definitely be using your recipe.
looks great I want to go to Ireland to eat me some!
Haha, your recipes are becoming regulars at my table!
Oh my gosh, I tried that soda bread tonight- I added some more spices (to give it a little italian-bread taste) and added a few tablespoons of kale puree and it was awesome. I served it with soup and it tasted SO good!
this is tantalizing both in verse and picture! thank u for torturing me 😉
Can this be baked in a loaf pan? I am looking for a way to make sandwich bread without the yeast and thought this might be a good alternative but would still like the uniform loaf form.
I have made this twice now and my little girl loves it I don’t use the seeds as we don’t like them but really nice with Irish butter yum yum
So glad you enjoyed it Lily!
What a great Recipe. soon going to try this for my mom