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Freshly baked Irish Soda Bread loaf on a wooden cutting board

Irish Soda Bread

This Irish soda bread recipe is warm, rustic, and incredibly fast. Baked in under an hour, it features a tender crumb with a crisp, golden crust, making it perfect for breakfast or as a complement to any dinner table.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: Irish
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 4 cups All-purpose flour Choose a dependable brand and spoon-and-level your cups.
  • 4 tbsp Granulated sugar Optional, can be reduced or substituted with honey.
  • 1 tsp Baking soda Make sure it's fresh for proper leavening.
  • 1 tbsp Baking powder Helps the bread rise.
  • 1/2 tsp Salt Use less if using salted butter.
Wet Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Softened butter For mixing into the dough.
  • 1/4 cup Melted butter For basting the loaf.
  • 1 1/4 cups Buttermilk Divided use, gives the bread its tang.
  • 1 large Egg For richness and binding.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a large baking sheet.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Add the softened butter, 1 cup of buttermilk, and the egg to the dry mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
Kneading
  1. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly, about 8–10 times.
Shaping and Basting
  1. Shape the dough into a round loaf and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and the remaining buttermilk for basting.
  3. Brush the entire loaf with the buttermilk mixture and score a deep 'X' on top.
Baking
  1. Bake for 45 minutes, basting with the buttermilk mixture every 15 minutes.
  2. The loaf is done when a toothpick comes out clean and it sounds hollow when tapped.
Serving
  1. Allow the bread to cool slightly before slicing.

Notes

Wrap cooled loaf in a tea towel for room temp storage, or slice and store in an airtight container for longer storage. Can also be frozen for up to 3 months.