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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Traditional Irish Soda Bread
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.
Pro Tip: 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.
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 sugar does not sweeten the bread much at all.
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How To Make Irish Soda Bread
Follow these easy steps to make the best mini Irish Soda Bread…
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.
Step 3
In a small bowl, whisk together an egg yolk and buttermilk; then pour into the dry mixture and stir to combine.
Step 4
Very lightly knead the dough and form a small circle with the dough.
Step 5
Using a sharp knife, score a large “X” about 1/2-inch deep across the dough.
Step 6
Bake the soda bread for 40 minutes.
How To 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 To Eat Irish Soda Bread
There are many ways to eat 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 for dipping and when sliced thin makes a great sandwich bread.
This mini Irish Soda Bread recipe will yield 1 small loaf and is about a quarter of the size of a standard soda bread loaf.
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Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon cold butter
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Cut the butter into small pieces and work the butter into the flour using your fingers or a fork until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the raisins.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and buttermilk. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon until just combined.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead very lightly and form a 4-inch circle. (Add a little more flour to the dough if the dough becomes too sticky to handle). Do not over-knead!
- Using a serrated knife, score top of dough about an inch and half deep in an “X” shape.
- Place dough on a baking sheet and bake until bread is golden, about 35-40 minutes.HINT: If the top of the bread is getting too dark while baking, place a sheet of aluminum foil over the top.
- Serve bread warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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I love your recipes for one or two.
Thank you so much, Dorothy!
Hi Joanie, regarding making buttermilk, most websites say to use just 1 tbsp to make 1 cup. Yours calls for a double amount of the vinegar… is it exclusively for this recipe? Thank you.
Hi Cynthia, I’ve always used roughly 1 tablespoon or the squeeze of half a lemon in 1/2 cup milk. That is what I recommend for this recipe.
Hi Joanie, it turned out very well! I used a mix of dates and raisins. Very Delicious. Thanks!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soda bread. Thank you so much for letting me know!