Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the kids or simply need a hearty side dish for a weeknight stew, this Irish Soda Bread is the perfect way to have warm, homemade bread on the table in under an hour. It’s also easy to customize with fiber-rich mix-ins like dried fruit or flax seeds, making it “super healthy” for the whole family!
Why Your Family Will Love This Irish Soda Bread
There’s something incredibly nostalgic about the scent of fresh bread wafting through the kitchen, but for most busy parents, the time spent waiting for dough to rise feels like a luxury we don’t have. Enter: The best Irish soda bread. This rustic, crusty bread is the ultimate “emergency” bread. No yeast, no fermentation time, just a few pantry staples.
Traditional bread can be intimidating because of the yeast and rising time. This easy Irish Soda Bread is a “quick bread.” That means bread that rises instantly using baking soda and buttermilk, resulting in a golden, crispy exterior and a soft, tender crumb on the inside. They’re dense, slightly sweet, and crusty on the outside, so kids love dunking them in soup or slathering them with a little honey butter.
Expert tips for the best texture:
- Don’t overwork the dough: The secret to a soft crumb is a light touch. If you knead too much, the gluten develops and the bread becomes hard. Stop as soon as the flour becomes moist.
- Cold is key: Make sure the butter comes straight from the refrigerator. Those little pieces of cold butter create steam pockets in the oven that make the bread fluffier.
- “X” marks the point. Cutting a deep cross at the top isn’t just for tradition. Heat penetrates into the center of the bread and bakes evenly without drying out the edges.
Smart replacement and transformation:
- Make with whole grains: Swap 1 cup of all-purpose flour for: white whole wheat flour. Adds fiber without the heavy “wheat” taste that some children reject.
- Dairy Free: You can make “vegan buttermilk” by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of soy or almond milk. Let sit for 5 minutes until set.
- Sugar Exchange: For a more natural sweetener, replace white sugar with honey or maple syrup.
- Mixins: Raisins are traditional, but children often prefer them. mini dark chocolate chips or dried blueberries. For a flavorful twist, skip the sugar and add 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese and a few chives.
Serving suggestions:
- morning: It was toasted with thinly sliced cream cheese and strawberries.
- dinner: The perfect assistant for anyone with a warm heart. Slow Cooker Beef Stew Or creamy potato soup.
More delicious homemade bread recipes:
Best Irish Soda Bread
Skip the yeast! This easy and healthy Irish Soda Bread is a one-hour, kid-friendly bread that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or a cozy dinner. Simple and simple, yet delicious!
Serving Size: 8
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Preheat oven to 375°F.
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Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Sprinkle cold butter cubes over flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter (or your hands), chop and combine the butter into very small pieces.
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Slowly add buttermilk and gently stir to combine. Once the dough begins to form, knead the buttermilk with your hands until it comes together. The dough should not be too sticky.
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Place the dough on the counter, add the raisins and knead gently. Work as little as possible to avoid the dough becoming tough.
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Shape into a round loaf and make cross cuts about ½ inch deep in the top of the dough.
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Place in a cast iron skillet or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden skewer comes out clean. Do not overbake!
