Let’s kick off our St. Patrick’s Day food series with a classic: Irish Soda Bread! This super easy recipe yields a simple, rustic loaf that pairs perfectly with everything from hearty stews to a simple pat of butter. While you can mix and knead by hand, I highly recommend using a stand mixer to finish the prep in just 10 minutes. I recently whipped up six loaves in under 40 minutes, proving how effortless this recipe really is. Get ready to fill your kitchen with the warm, comforting aroma of fresh bread!
Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe: (Makes 2 Loaves)
Ingredients:
- Dry Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (or your preferred sugar substitute like honey or monkfruit, adjust to equivalent sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- Glaze & Topping:
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- Rolled oats (for sprinkling)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheet:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the softened butter, and mix on low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add Wet Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of buttermilk and the egg.
- Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.
- Switch to the dough hook attachment, and mix on low speed until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
- Shape the Loaves:
- Divide the dough in half.
- On a lightly floured surface, gently shape each half into a round loaf.
- Place the loaves on the prepared baking sheet.
- Prepare the Glaze and Score:
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and 1/4 cup buttermilk.
- Brush the tops of the loaves with the glaze.
- Using a sharp knife, cut an “X” shape about 1/2 inch deep into the top of each loaf.
- Sprinkle the tops of the loaves with rolled oats.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the loaves are golden brown.
- After 30 minutes of baking, brush the loaves again with the remaining glaze.
- Continue baking until fully cooked.
- Cool:
- Remove the loaves from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
