Mini Irish Soda Bread Recipe | One Dish Kitchen

Name: Mini Irish Soda Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 cup all purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1 tablespoon salted butter (, cold); 1/4 cup raisins; 1 large egg yolk; 1/2 cup buttermilk

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This traditional Irish soda bread is easy to make and requires just a few simple ingredients. Made without yeast, this quick bread recipe yields one small loaf. With a perfectly tender crumb and a wonderful golden crust, this soda bread pairs well with soups, chilis, stews, or alone with butter.

There are many versions of Irish soda bread and everyone seems to have their favorite.

Some folks say it's not authentic if the bread doesn't have currents or caraway seeds. Others say it shouldn't be sweet, while others want it sweeter. Any way you slice it, Irish soda bread has fans in all corners and today I'm sharing with you a scaled down version of my family's Irish soda bread recipe.

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Why This Recipe Works

Irish soda bread is a quick bread that does not require any yeast. The essential ingredients in a traditional Irish soda bread recipe are flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt.

The baking soda is used as a leavening agent instead of yeast and the acid in the buttermilk reacts with the base of the baking soda to help the bread rise.

Traditionally, before baking a cross would be cut on the top of the bread. This cross was said to symbolize a blessing of the bread and to protect the household. In reality, scoring the dough helps the heat reach the center of the loaf as it bakes.

Although soda bread is not a sweet bread, I've chosen to add a small amount of sugar to my recipe. You will find that the amount of sugar I add does not sweeten the bread too much, it just gives it a hint of sweetness.

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Ingredient Notes

See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and complete recipe instructions.

Flour: Use all-purpose flour
Sugar: A very small amount of sugar is used for a hint of sweetness.
Salt: For flavor
Baking soda: This helps the soda bread to rise.
Butter: Use cold salted butter.
Raisins: You can use currants or caraway seeds or leave them out altogether.
Egg yolk: Use 1 egg yolk and be sure to see ways to use the leftover egg white below.
Buttermilk: This ingredient reacts to the baking soda which helps the bread to rise. If you don’t have buttermilk, the closest substitute would be a little dairy with a touch of acidity added. To make ½ cup of buttermilk, measure ½ cup milk (112 milliliters) and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes at room temperature before using.

How To Make This Recipe

Step 1: Mix together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.

Step 2: Work the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs; then add raisins.

Flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and raisins mixed together in a large bowl

Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together an egg yolk and buttermilk; then pour into the dry mixture and stir to combine.

Egg yolk and buttermilk added to the mixture in the large bowl

Step 4: Very lightly knead the dough and form a small circle with the dough.

Irish soda bread dough sitting on a cutting board next to a knife

Step 5: Using a sharp knife, score a large "X" about 1/2-inch deep across the dough.

Scoring a cross with a knife into the dough of irish soda bread on a cutting board

Step 6: Bake the soda bread for 40 minutes.

A hand holding a piece of irish soda bread

Expert Tips

Don't overwork the dough. The dough is not supposed to look smooth.
Score the top of the dough with an "X" or a cross shape. This helps the center to bake through.
If you're baking this Irish soda bread for St. Patrick's Day, you'll love our Irish Stew and our Guinness Float!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Store Irish Soda Bread?

Leftover soda bread can be cooled completely, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.
It freezes well, up to 3 months. Just thaw and reheat.

How Do You Serve Irish Soda Bread?

There are many ways to eat Irish soda bread but the most popular way is with butter. Adding jam or jelly makes this bread a great choice for breakfast.
Irish Soda Bread can also be served with soups or stews. You might like to consider serving it with any of these single serving soup and stew recipes:
Potato Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
French Onion Soup
Beef Stew
When sliced, it also makes a great sandwich bread.

How Much Will This Mini Irish Soda Bread Recipe Yield?

This soda bread recipe will yield 1 small loaf and is about a quarter of the size of a standard soda bread loaf.

What To Do With Leftover Ingredients?

If you have any leftover ingredients from this recipe, consider these ideas:

Buttermilk freezes well. My preferred method is to freeze the buttermilk in 1 tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, the cubes can be stored in a zip-topped freezer bag. Since they are already measured, just pull out the amount you need, thaw and use.

You might like to use the raisins in any of these small batch recipes:

Since this recipe calls for using an egg yolk. Store the egg white in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should be used within 3 days. You might like to use the leftover egg white in any of these small batch recipes:

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Spreading butter over a piece of irish soda bread with the rest of the soda bread shown in the background

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