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Irish Soda Bread is the perfect quick bread that is crusty on the outside and deliciously soft on the inside. It is the perfect shortcut bread if you find yourself nervous about baking with yeast. This Irish Soda bread has a golden-brown crust that is full of flavor. 

Irish Soda Bread

In our house, we love all the bread. Give us a slice of bread with some butter and we are one happy family! Some of our favorites are apple pie bread, cornbread muffins, and of course, Irish Soda bread! 

If you have yet to make bread or have Irish Soda bread now is the time to make it! You will love it for so many reasons! 

• The crusty crust
• The soft tender inside
• The buttermilk flavor
• It’s easy to make, almost fail-proof since it is a quick bread that uses no yeast.
• Pairs perfectly with soups, chilis, with bread and jam. Pretty much any way you would like to enjoy it! 

What is soda bread in Ireland?

Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread that does not use yeast. In this bread, all the rising agents come from baking soda and buttermilk. 

Why is it called Irish Soda Bread?

In the United States, Irish Soda bread is a sweet white bread that is made with eggs, butter, and raisins. Sometimes you may find it with caraway seeds as well. You may think that soda is in the bread, but the only soda in this bread is baking soda. 

What will I need to make Irish Soda Bread?

You will need the following supplies:

• Cast iron skillet, if not a baking sheet is fine.  
• Mixing bowls
• Dough cutter

How to Make Irish Soda Bread

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and add a cast iron skillet to heat up.
• In a large mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, baking soda, and sea salt.  Mix well with a whisk.

• Using a dough cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until no lumps remain and resemble fine bread crumbs.

• Stir in the raisins.

• Mix the egg with the buttermilk and add to the flour mixture.

• Stir until you no longer can due to thickness.

• Empty the dough onto a floured surface and gently turn and press into a mound.  The dough will be very soft, almost sticky at this point.  If it’s too sticky to mold then add a little more flour until it is easier to work with.  Do not overwork the dough.

• Drop the bread dough into the heated skillet then using a sharp knife cut a cross into the top.  This will aid in cooking the loaf in the middle.

• Place the skillet into the oven and bake for 45 minutes.  Keep checking in the last 10 minutes, if it is browning too much place a piece of foil over the top to prevent burning.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly in the skillet.  After about 10 minutes turn out onto a cooling rack to cool more.

• Once cooled completely, slice and serve with butter and your favorite soups/stew.

Tips Tricks and FAQs

• If you prefer you can make this bread without the raisins. 
• You can omit the egg if you prefer. The egg brings a density and richness to the bread, so if you are looking for a lighter loaf of bread skip this ingredient. 
• Be sure to not overwork the dough. Doing so will make it tougher. 

Storage

You will want to store your Irish Soda bread in an airtight container at room temperature. It is best to store it with a paper towel in the container as well to help keep the moisture down. This will keep for up to 5 days. 

Can you freeze Soda bread?

Yes, you can freeze Soda bread. You will want to let it completely cool and then wrap it in a piece of plastic wrap tightly. Follow this by wrapping it tightly in foil and then placing it in the freezer. This will last for about 3 months.

When you are ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature on your container. Be sure to properly store it once thawed. 

Can you make Irish Soda Bread without buttermilk?

No, you cannot make this bread without buttermilk. Buttermilk is the secret ingredient that reacts with the baking soda that helps the bread to rise without the yeast. Not only that, but you don’t want to miss out on the flavor that the buttermilk brings to the bread. 

Can I make Irish Soda Bread without a cast iron Skillet?

Yes, you can make it without a cast-iron skillet. You can use a baking sheet, line it with parchment paper, and watch it closely as it bakes. If it is getting too brown, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent it from burning. 

I do recommend if you are going to make this often to invest in a cast-iron skillet. This helps the crust get super crispy.

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