This easy Irish soda bread recipe requires minimum prep time and no yeast! Buttermilk and baking soda add flavor and ensure a perfect rise with a moist and tender crumb.
Prep Time: 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 45 minutesminutes
Total Time: 1 hourhour
Servings: 16
Ingredients
Bread:
4cupsall-purpose flour
⅓cupgranulated sugar
1Tablespoonbaking powder
1teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonKosher salt
8TablespoonsKerrygold Irish Butter(can substitute for butter or margarine, slightly softened)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a skillet, pizza stone or baking sheet. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork. Stir in the buttermilk and egg.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead with your hands until the bread forms a ball. At this point you can cut the dough in half to make 2 smaller loaves or 1 large loaf. Press it down and round the edges and then cut an 'X' in the top of the loaf.
For the brushing on top, combine the melted butter and buttermilk in a small bowl and then brush half of it on top of the loaf. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick comes clean, about 45-55 minutes. Brush remaining butter onto the soda bread half way during baking.
Cool on baking rack and serve warm. This Irish soda bread is best served the first day.
Notes
This recipe makes 2 small loaves. For a sweeter version, mix in 1 cup of raisins (or 1/2 cup into half of the loaf). Then sprinkle with sugar after brushing the butter on top before baking.