Irish Soda Bread

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And now, for Pat in particular, a promise to be kept:  Lowely’s delicious recipe for

I R I S H    S O D A     B R E A D

Serve this crusty bread hot from the oven, smothered in butter and jam.

  • 3 2/3 c. (450g) all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2/3 c. dried cranberries (or raisins, or currants)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 2/3 c. (400ml) buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425º (220ºC/gas mark 7). Lightly dust a baking sheet with flour. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.  Mix in sugar and dried cranberries.  In small bowl, beat egg with buttermilk.  Make a well in the flour and pour in all but 1/4 c. (50ml) of liquid.  Wash your hands and dry them. Grab the flour and liquid with outstretched fingers and keep doing that, moving your hand around the bowl in circles; add more buttermilk mixture if necessary, until it comes together.  Don’t knead; the dough should be soft, but not too wet or sticky.

Keeping the bread warm

Turn onto floured work surface and pat the dough into a round, about 2 1/2 inches (6cm) in height, and cut a deep cross in it, from one side of the loaf to the other.  Transfer to the baking sheet.  Bake for 10 min. at 425º, then reduce temp to 400ºF (200ºC/Gas mark 6) and bake for another 30 to 35 min, until the bread is golden, crusty, and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.  Cool on wire rack while you get the butter! Cut thick slices with a bread knife; wrap the bread in a dishtowel and serve it in a basket. 

It’s not very far from bread and water to tea and toast…

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tea

Have a wonderful day Girlfriends! XOXO

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7 Responses to Irish Soda Bread

  1. Melissa q says:

    Feel like a failure this year, I bought my soda bread😣time just got away from me. Love the sound of this recipe…like cranberries instead of raisins . Thanks for another grestvrecipe. Top of the morning to you!

    • sbranch says:

      Top of the morning to you too, Melissa! And good for you, you are celebrating, and that’s the important part! xoxo

  2. karen says:

    I vow to make this today. just printing out the recipe will make me happy!

  3. Mary Ann says:

    I made the Irish soda bread and it was delicious and so pretty to look at
    I did have to bake it probably 20 minutes longer than recipe called for
    Happy St Patric’s Day

    • sbranch says:

      Thank you for that . . . wow 20 min — I think I had to go 10 minutes longer, this recipe came from my girlfriend Lowely, her oven may be hotter than mine. I’m so happy it turned out! Thank you for letting me know!

  4. Maureen S. says:

    I wish I would have seen this post before St. Pat’s Day!! I could not find this type of bread in a bakery in my community and just used sourdough instead. I am baking this in the morning for sure. Thanks and have a wonderful day.

  5. Lorraine says:

    This is my first time to bake Irish Soda Bread in my life. I am an island girl from Hawaii. I didn’t know what to expect. Came out great first time after following these directions. I baked it for my mother-in-law who is an Irish Lady. She LOVED it with raisins and butter. I LOVE this recipe, it tastes delicious!! Will continue to bake it for her. Thank you so much!!

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