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A Simple and Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

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Many years ago, I was looking for an super easy recipe for bread. I opened up my family’s “go-to” Canadian Living cookbook. I opened the book to a recipe for Irish soda bread and fell in love. My Irish soda bread recipe is a little different and celebrates this simple and rustic bread. irish soda bread featured
 
Soda bread is a type of bread that does not require yeast as a leavening agent. What does this mean for you as the chef? It means that you don’t need to let the dough sit and rise for hours on end. When you have hungry kids, this is an absolute bonus. Soda bread is simple to make and it instantly became a family favourite.
 
Not only do I bake this bread for us at home, it has become the bread that I love to bring to people’s homes. Arriving with a fresh baked loaf of bread is always a welcomed contribution at any gathering. There is nothing better for dipping into soups, stews and sauces…delicious. We will be eating it tonight with beef stew. Here’s how to make a good ol’ rustic Irish soda bread.

Irish Soda Bread

4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup buttermilk

soda bread dry ingredientsPreheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

soda bread with butter in dry ingredientsCut cold butter into dry ingredients, using a fork or a pastry cutter, until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

soda bread buttermilk and eggs in bowlIn a small bowl combine eggs and buttermilk. If you don’t have any buttermilk you can make your own. Fill your liquid measuring cup with milk, remove 1 tbsp of milk and add 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Stir.

wet ingredients and dry ingredients with forkPour buttermilk and eggs into the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until dough is wet.

soda bread coming togetherKnead dough, on a lightly floured surface. Only knead the bread 8-10 times.

kneading soda bread ball of doughForm a large ball and place the ball on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to etch an “X” across the ball of dough.

irish soda bread going into the ovenBake in 350°F oven for 1 hour. You will know it is done when it is golden brown and when it sounds hollow when you knock on the bottom of the bread.

soda bread on baking sheet bakedSlice and enjoy.

irish soda bread baked on plate

irish soda bread baked on plate
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Simple Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This Irish soda bread is a rustic, simple and delicious bread. Perfect for dipping into soups and stews or making an amazing sandwich.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 10 mins
Course: dinner, lunch, Snack
Cuisine: irish
Keyword: bread, soda bread
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories: 341kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cup buttermilk

Instructions

  • Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
  • Cut cold butter into dry ingredients, using a fork or a pastry cutter, until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
  • In a small bowl combine eggs and buttermilk. If you don't have any buttermilk you can make your own. Fill your liquid measuring cup with milk, remove 1 tbsp of milk and add 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Stir.
  • Pour buttermilk and eggs into the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until dough is wet.
  • Knead dough, on a lightly floured surface. Only knead the bread 8-10 times.
  • Form a large ball and place the ball on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to etch an "X" across the ball of dough.
  • Bake in 350°F oven for 1 hour. You will know it is done when it is golden brown and when it sounds hollow when you knock on the bottom of the bread.

Notes

Nutrition Info is to be used as a rough guide only. Nutrition Info is based on the products I am using and you may not be using the same products/brands. Thus, the Nutrition Info may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 57.7g | Protein: 9.7g | Fat: 7.9g | Saturated Fat: 4.4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 9.1g | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 3.2mg
Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 57.7g | Protein: 9.7g | Fat: 7.9g | Saturated Fat: 4.4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 9.1g | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 3.2mg

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Love this recipe? Check out our Cheddar and Herb Biscuits…another perfect little dipper for soups, chilli and stews.Do you make your own bread? If you are looking for a recipe for a traditional loaf of yeast bread, I found this recipe fairly easy to bake. And, if you are looking for another bread recipe…pizza dough…check out my family pizza night post. What is your favourite bread recipe? Feel free to share here in the comments. 

cheddar and herb biscuits 11

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Comments

  1. Peggy-Sue says

    Oh my gosh – that bread looks SO good! (Actually, it looks like one of my favourite things – a huge biscuit!) Thanks for posting the recipe – I’m definitely going to try it this weekend.