Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This traditional Irish soda bread recipe is the one I grew up eating in Ireland. It's simple to make with a few basic ingredients and tastes delicious served warm with butter or jam.

Course bread

Cuisine Irish

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 50

Servings

Calories 160kcal

Author Jenna Shaughnessy

Ingredients

4 cups all purpose flour plus extra to dust currants
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons butter cut into small cubes
1 ½ cups buttermilk
1 large egg beaten
1 cup currants (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
In a small bowl, lightly beat the buttermilk and egg together using a fork or hand whisk. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. The dough will be sticky but shouldn't be wet. If it's too wet to handle, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface. Making sure your hands are clean, knead lightly a few times into a round loaf. Don't be afraid to add more flour as needed. The dough should not be wet or really sticky at this point.
Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and cut a deep cross into the top with a sharp knife.
Bake for to 50 - 60 minutes or until the top is golden and when tapping underneath it has a hollow sound.
Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature with lots of butter!

Notes

Traditionally, I was taught to make the dough by creating a well with the dry ingredients and then pouring the wet ingredients in and mixing with bare hands. I like to avoid the mess these days so I use my mixer and it tastes just as good.

If you choose to omit the currants, you may want to add 1 tablespoon of sugar instead.

Nutrition