Irish Soda Bread is delicious and one of the easiest breads to make. Just 4 ingredients and zero rising time, makes this bread perfect to make any day of the week. Perfect with butter, jelly, for sandwiches or dunking in stews.
With the holidays around the corner, I will be sharing more bread and dessert recipes and it doesn’t get any easier than this Irish Soda Bread!
With just four ingredients, zero waiting time for the dough to rise and barely any need to knead the dough, this bread is hyper simple to make.
It just doesn’t get any easier than that!
Ingredients for Irish Soda Bread
- 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
History of Irish Soda Bread
Although you will see many different soda bread recipes on the internet that include butter, seeds and or dried fruits it’s originally made with just these four ingredients.
This table bread was first introduced in the 1800’s when virtually no one had an oven. It was perfect for the time, due to the fact that it could be cooked in a “bastible” (a cast iron pot with a lid) over coals.
It was simply made and eaten with meals or sliced and served with butter.
The addition of seeds, raisins, currants or other dried fruits would have been considered a luxury item and added as a treat for the working men or on special occasions.
The famous “cross” cut on top of the bread is said to rid the “devil” out of the bread however it serves a more culinary purpose. 😄 The cross or “X” allows the bread to cook evenly by allowing the heat to reach the thickest part of the bread.
What is Special About Irish Bread?
Unlike so many breads, Irish bread does not need yeast!
It is a bread known for its magical properties because it is able to rise in the oven without any yeast.
The buttermilk and baking soda causes a baking reaction that allows the bread to rise all on its own.
How perfect is that!
I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to make bread only to realize I ran out of yeast! No need to worry about that with this bread!!
This bread bakes with a perfect crust and a dense center making it perfect for pastrimi, cornbeef and roast beef sandwiches.
It is also great with just butter, jam, jelly and dunking in stews.
How to Make this Yummy Bread
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Sift the flour.
- Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and add the buttermilk.
- With your hands mix the buttermilk and flour just until it comes together. Do not over mix or the bread will come out tough.
- Once dough has come together, lightly knead dough into a round form for about 10 seconds. (Do not over knead or bread will come out tough)
- Lightly flour a baking sheet, casserole or a cast iron skillet.
- Add dough ball to the baking sheet, casserole or cast iron skillet.
- Cut an X on top of dough, a quarter of an inch deep. (This helps the bread cook evenly in the center)
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Bread is fully cooked when tapped on the bottom and it sounds hollow.
Note: Each oven is different and bread may cook in less time or need more time so adjust accordingly. Also if the top of your bread starts to darken early in the cooking stage, simply top a piece of aluminum foil to prevent it from turning to dark or burning.
Once done, bread will be a beautiful golden color and have a beautiful crust.
How to Serve Irish Soda Bread
If you like, slice and serve warm with butter.
Or allow bread to cool, slice and use to make sandwiches.
You can also slice into larger pieces and serve with a stew.
Make sure to enjoy this bread within 2 days as it will start to harden.
How to Store Irish Soda Bread
You can make this bread ahead of time and freeze if you like until ready to be enjoyed.
Once bread has cooled, wrapped in saran wrap well and then in aluminum foil.
Store bread for up to 2 months in the freezer.
For more delicious bread or dough ideas, you will also love these:
Deliciously Moist Avocado Bread
Pastelitos de Carne (Puff Pastry with Meat Filling)
Cheesy Chicken Poblano Panecillos
Easy Empanadilla Dough (Masa Para Empanadillas)
📖 Recipe
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour sifted
- 1 teaspoon backing soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1¾ cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Sift the flour into a large bowl.Add the baking soda and salt to the flour and mix.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and add the buttermilk.Using your hands mix the buttermilk and flour just until it comes together. Do not over mix or the bread will come out tough.
- Once dough has come together, lightly knead dough into a round form for about 10 seconds. (Do not over knead or bread will come out tough)Lightly flour a baking sheet, casserole or a cast iron skillet.Add dough ball to the baking sheet, casserole or cast iron skillet.
- Cut an X on top of dough, a quarter of an inch deep. (This helps the bread cook evenly in the center)Bake for 45 minutes.Bread is fully cooked when you tap on the bottom and the bread sounds hollow.Note: Each oven is different and bread may cook in less time or need more time so adjust accordingly. Also if the top of your bread starts to darken early in the cooking stage, simply top a piece of aluminum foil to prevent it from turning to dark or burning.
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