Irish Soda Bread
Baking special treats and making Holidays fun, has always been important to me. Irish Soda Bread is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, (Corned Beef is too, but, sorry I won’t be making it) that I have never made…until now.
Wondering why they call it Soda Bread, I used my handy Swagbucks toolbar, and searched around, this is what I found from the Society of Preservation of Soda Bread (yep, it really does exist 
)
“Just like the bagpipes weren’t invented by the Scots, Soda Bread wasn’t invented by the Irish. The earliest reference to using soda ash in baking bread seems to be credited to American Indians using it to leaven their bread. Pearl Ash was used prior to 1800 to make cakes by combining it with an acidic ingredient in the dough. However, as the Scots have made the bagpipe their instrument, the Irish have made Soda Bread theirs. Not by choice, but by a state of poverty that made it the easiest bread to put on the table.”
While most breads have yeast to make them light, Irish Soda Bread does not contain yeast, so it is a heavy, dense bread.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour, all-purpose, plus a little extra for currants
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
- 1 Egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 cup dried currants (I used dried cranberries, the Walmart brand)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper
- Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, whisk lightly.
- Add cold butter and combine with mixer
- In a small bowl, combine buttermilk, egg and orange zest, beat lightly with a fork. *If you don’t have buttermilk, I add 1 tablespoon vinegar to a measuring cup and then add enough milk to measure what the recipe calls for*
- Slowly add milk mixture to flour mixture, mix on low speed. I ended up having to finish the mixing by hand because my small mixer couldn’t handle it.
- Add about 1 tablespoon of flour to currants (or dried cranberries, like I did) so they don’t clump together
- The recipe says the batter is very wet, I’ll have to say that’s an understatement Dump dough onto well floured surface, and knead into a round loaf (it took me quite a few times to get it workable)
I divided the dough in half to make 2 smaller loaves. Place them on the cookie sheet and with a serrated knife, make an “X” on top.
If you make one loaf, Bake for about 45-55 minutes, I baked my loaves for about 30 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.
Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Isn’t this the prettiest bread ever? I’m not sure I will bake it again anytime soon. We did like the taste, although the boys didn’t really care for the texture. We really like the dried cranberries in it. I used them because I couldn’t find currants, and they worked out really well.
Have you ever baked Irish Soda Bread? Did you like it?
This post linked to:
~St. Patrick’s Day Party hosted by Created by Diane
~St. Patrick’s Day Party hosted by Somewhat Simple
~Foodie Friday hosted by Designs by Gollum
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I love Irish soda bread and make it at least once a year! My kids devour it
I put raisins in mine. My mom always made it and I’m glad she gave me the recipe. I will be making corned beef next week too 
Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}´s last blog ..Shamrock Pretzel
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CupcakeLady Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
@Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}, Do you use only raisins? Or other berries too? Corned beef,well, as I said, I won’t make that. Whew! Sorry! lol
~Liz
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yes, I only put raisins in it.
Do you not like corned beef?
Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}´s last blog ..Shamrock Pretzel
[Reply]
CupcakeLady Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 12:00 am
@Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}, Nope, no Corned Beef for us, lol! I’ll be making Irish Stew!
~Liz
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Mmmmm delicious. My favorite way to eat soda bread is toasted with butter or dipped in some egg and french toast style…yum!
Nutmeg Nanny´s last blog ..Green Velvet Cupcakes
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This looks lovely! I just need a way to make it gluten-free and dairy free and still look lovely and taste good. I have always wanted to try Irish Soda Bread. I still may for the gluten eaters in my home;)
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It is a pretty bread indeed. I had no idea the Scots didn’t invent the bagpipes (as my Nana rolls over in her grave). Interesting lessons on soda as well. It’s amazing what’ll happen to dough after you knead it a couple times, eh? I made a doughnut recipe and the only way I could describe the dough was that it felt like jellyfish – ew! Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe
Sarah @ Mum In Bloom´s last blog ..Recipe: Peasant Style Cabbage Soup
[Reply]
CupcakeLady Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@Sarah @ Mum In Bloom, That’s funny! Jellyfish…yup, that’s what it felt like. Thanks so much for visiting!
~Liz
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I am so not Irish and have never had this before! It looks really yummy:-)
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I have never made Irish Soda bread, but I am always hoping that someone will make it because I LOVE IT!
Maybe this year I will make some!
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Is it horrible that I’ve never even heard of soda bread? It looks really good so I’ll have to see if we can whip some up.
Thanks!
Kimberly @ Raising Olives´s last blog ..4 Moms, 35 Kids – Our Schedule
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Oh, I have made tons of it! 70 loaves one year for orders, and 50 for each of my 4 gkids Christenings as take homes for the guests.
Soda Bread can be awful, dry and crumbly..Authentic soda bread was plain, as only the wealthy had currants or caraway.
Mine is not authentic, but it is good..I made a few loaves today..More next week..
Yours looks good!
[Reply]
CupcakeLady Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
@Cuisine Kathleen, Thanks so much! Wow, it sounds like you’ve made a ton! That’s awesome! I see you are having a St. Pat’s Party next Tues. I’ll be there!
Thanks for visiting!
~Liz
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That looks really good and it’s beautifully photographed. I haven’t made Irish soda bread, but I’ve made Irish soda bread scones. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
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I was just thinking “I would use raisins” and then saw your comments! Guess I’m not terribly original! haha
I am so terribly intrigued by this recipe. I would probably be making it right now if I hadn’t used all my butter on banana bread this morning. Good thing tomorrow is grocery day!
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