Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Freshly baked Irish Soda Bread in a cast Iron Skillet

Bread doesn't have to be boring. Switch up the kind of bread you eat with this delicious, traditional Irish soda bread!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Servings loaf

Calories 3330.1kcal

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons cold butter cut into small pieces
1 ½ cups buttermilk
1 egg
1 cup raisins or currants

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (220°C) and grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet generously with butter.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in the raisins and stir to combine.
Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the buttermilk and egg. Mix the ingredients together with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface, shape into a round loaf and place it onto the prepared skillet.
Use a sharp knife to cut a deep "X" shape into the top of the loaf.
Bake the bread for 50 to 55 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving

Notes

The dough should be sticky and wet. Don't overwork the dough else, the bread will turn out tough.
If you are unable to shape it into a ball, then incorporate a little more flour at a time until you are able to form the ball.
Add more notes as needed

Nutrition