This Irish Soda bread is the best you'll ever eat! Light, slightly sweet, hearty and delicious, this buttermilk bread recipe is a no-yeast, no-knead, quick bread studded with raisins.
Course Baking
Cuisine Irish
Keyword Irish Soda Bread, Soda Bread, Soda Bread Recipe
1cupraisinsgolden raisins or currants (or a combination)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the baking pan, you can use a sheet pan or a seasoned 10 - 12 inch cast iron skillet lined with parchment paper. You can also use a greased 9 - 10 inch cake pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the 4 cups of flour, the sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
With a fork, lightly whisk the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture.
Combine the raisins or currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. The dough will be very wet.
Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and with floured hands, knead the dough a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan (cast iron skillet or baking pan) and with a sharp knife score an X into the top of the bread.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool on a baking rack. Serve warm, at room temperature or toasted. Serve it by itself, with butter or your favorite topping.
Notes
Don't overwork the dough.
Always score the top of the bread so the heat reaches the center of the loaf while it bakes.
Soda bread dries out quickly however, it can be made 1 to 3 days ahead. To store it, wrap it tightly or place it in an air tight container to keep it fresh.
You can freeze soda bread tightly wrapped for up to 3 months.
This recipe for Irish soda bread calls for raisins or currants, however you can use dried cranberries if you prefer.
Some Irish soda bread recipes use caraway seeds. Caraway seeds have an anise/licorice flavor and are a great addition to this Irish bread.
Soda bread can be baked on a sheet pan, a baking pan, on a cast iron skillet and even in a Dutch oven.