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Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread

Irish soda bread is actually easy to make with flour, baking soda, and buttermilk. This is the best Irish soda bread around — the buttermilk gives this crusty loaf a delicious flavor!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine british
Servings 20 people
Calories 3414.5 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 1 Sharp Knife For scoring the loaf
  • 1 Pastry Brush For the buttermilk wash
  • 1 Small Bowl For the butter-buttermilk wash

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 4 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ¼ cup buttermilk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Julian Henserling / Prop Styling: Christina Daley
  • Mix flour, softened butter, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Julian Henserling / Prop Styling: Christina Daley
  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round loaf and place on the prepared baking sheet. Note that the dough will be a little sticky. Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Julian Henserling / Prop Styling: Christina Daley
  • Combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk in a small bowl; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf. Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Julian Henserling / Prop Styling: Christina Daley
  • Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes. Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Julian Henserling / Prop Styling: Christina Daley
  • Slice and enjoy! Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Julian Henserling / Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Notes

For a truly tender soda bread, avoid overworking the dough; just knead enough to bring it together. Excessive kneading develops gluten, leading to a tough texture. The buttermilk is crucial for both activating the leavening agents and imparting its characteristic tang and moist crumb. Don't skip scoring the 'X' on top, as it's not just traditional but helps the bread bake evenly and prevents it from bursting. Brushing the loaf with the butter-buttermilk mixture periodically during baking will create a rich, golden, and slightly crisp crust. Consider adding a handful of raisins or caraway seeds to the dough for an authentic variation.