Name: Mini Irish Soda Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
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

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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.

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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.

What Is Irish Soda Bread?

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.

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 amount of sugar I add does not sweeten the bread too much, it just gives it a hint of sweetness.

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Ingredients

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

all purpose flour
sugar
salt
baking soda
cold butter
raisins
egg yolk
buttermilk

How To Make Irish Soda Bread

Follow these easy steps to make the best 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.

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

How To Store

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

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:

Soda bread also makes a great addition to any main dish salad:

When sliced, it also 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.

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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