Everyone is Irish for one day in March and a loaf of this easy Irish Soda Bread is a worthy addition to any St. Patrick's Day meal! This traditional recipe calls for mostly pantry items, with a handful of raisins and caraway seeds tossed in for a sweet and savory texture and flavor.
Course Ingredient, Side Dish
Cuisine Irish
Keyword irish soda bread
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 40 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour
Servings 8
Calories 362kcal
Author Erica
Ingredients
4cupsall-purpose flour
2teaspoonsgranulated sugar
1teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonkosher salt
¼cupcold butterchopped
1cupgolden raisinsoptional
2teaspoonscaraway seedsoptional
1 ½cupsbuttermilk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly flour a 12-inch cast iron pan or a baking sheet; set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Massage in the cold butter with your fingers until a coarse meal is formed. Stir in the raisins and caraway seeds, if using.
Make a well in the center of the ingredients and pour in the buttermilk. Use a large spoon to mix until a soft dough is formed. (You may need to add a bit of flour if the dough is too wet.)
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface, kneading briefly before forming it into a round loaf. Place it in the prepared cast iron skillet.
Flatten the dough slightly, then use a sharp knife to cut a cross on the top. Bake for about 35-45 minutes (the cast iron will take a bit longer), until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack, then serve warm with butter.