Description
This Irish Soda Bread is a delightful and simple treat, featuring a blend of flour, buttermilk, and a hint of sweetness from sugar. Perfect for quick dinners, it offers a soothing comfort that everyone enjoys.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups raisins, or currants, optional*
- ⅔ cup irish whiskey such as jameson, or apple juice or white grape juice, optional
- 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups buttermilk*
- 2 large eggs + 2 yolks, use the extra whites for an omelette or scrambled eggs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; divided
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar, optional (granulated sugar may be substituted)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray. As an alternative, heat a 9-inch cast iron skillet in the oven while preheating and grease it with butter.
- If soaking raisins, place them in a medium bowl and pour over the Irish whiskey or juice. Let sit while preparing the rest of the recipe.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs and yolks, melted butter (3 tablespoons), and granulated sugar.
- Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, stirring gently to combine without overmixing.
- If using soaked raisins, drain them and fold into the dough gently using a spatula.
- Turn the dough onto the prepared baking sheet or greased skillet, shaping it into a round loaf.
- Score the top of the dough with a knife making a large X about ½ inch deep.
- Brush the remaining melted butter on top of the dough.
- Optionally sprinkle turbinado sugar over the dough for a crunchy top.
- Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until the loaf is golden brown and cooked through. Rotate the pan halfway for even baking, checking periodically for doneness.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. It's best served with a pat of butter.
Notes
If you do not have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for about 10 minutes.
For a lighter sweetness and crunch on the crust, using turbinado sugar is recommended, although granulated sugar can be substituted.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg