St. Patrick's Day Recipe Ideas: Irish Soda Bread

What is Irish soda bread?

Irish soda bread is a dense and crumbly bread, with a similar texture to a scone. The most important ingredient in Irish soda bread is buttermilk, which is it’s primary leavening agent! Buttermilk is a historically available ingredient in Irish cuisine, and since the alkaline interactivity between the baking soda and buttermilk makes this bread rise, no yeast is needed. It’s a quick bread with a tasty, tangy flavor! Whip some up for St. Patrick’s Day or just make it as a tasty addition to any meal.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 6 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 3/4 cups cold low-fat buttermilk
• 1 large egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375˚F. Grease a 10” cast-iron skillet with butter.
2. In a large measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk and egg and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Add butter and work it into the flour until crumbs form using your hands. Make a well in the center.
4. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, mix until lightly moistened and the dough just barely starts to come together.
5. Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Using floured hands, shape the dough to form a round loaf. Dust with more flour if the dough is too sticky to handle. Do not over-mix, or the bread will be tough.
6. Transfer the dough to the buttered skillet, and use a knife to score the top with a large, deep “X.” Bake in the center of a preheated oven at 375˚F for 50-55min. When you tap on the bread, it should sound hollow inside. Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy within 2 days, refrigerating leftovers for up to a week.
*Why does Irish soda bread always have an X? The X marked in the bread is not only meant to allow steam to escape, but the X also has a superstitious belief! Depending on who you ask, the cross acts as a ward against evil, or has a folklore interpretation meant to “let the fairies out” of the bread.
7. For an extra Irish touch, spread Kerrygold butter onto the cut bread!

If you’re looking for more Irish and St. Patrick’s Day related baking, check out:
St. Patrick’s Day Cookie Recipe Set with Maddie Gartmann
Sweet Shenanigans: Edible Treats for St. Patrick’s Day
Shamrock, Rainbow, and Leprechaun Mini Cakes with Rachael Teufel
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With Whiskey Cupcakes
These St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes Are Made With Beer
Irish Cream Truffles Are the Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Dessert

Our friends at Craftsy also have a recipe for Irish soda bread, but this one contains raisins!