Soda Bread with Irish Butter (Print Version)
Rustic Irish bread with a crisp crust, tender crumb, and creamy butter for a comforting treat.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
04 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk
→ For Serving
06 - 4 tablespoons Irish butter, room temperature
# How-To:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar until well blended.
03 - Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in most of the buttermilk. Mix gently with your hand or a wooden spoon until a soft, shaggy dough forms, adding additional buttermilk only if necessary to bring the dough together.
04 - Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead briefly for about 30 seconds just to bring it together—avoid overworking. Shape into a round loaf approximately 2 inches thick and place on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross pattern on top of the loaf, cutting about halfway through the dough.
06 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
07 - Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm, cut into thick slices, with generous portions of Irish butter.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in minutes with no yeast, no rising time, and no fancy techniques
- The crust becomes golden and crackly while the inside stays tender and slightly sweet
02 -
- Overworking the dough makes it tough, so handle it as little as possible
- The cross on top isnt just tradition, it helps the bread bake evenly in the center
03 -
- Cold buttermilk is nonnegotiable, it keeps the gluten from developing too much
- If the bottom sounds hollow when you tap it, it is done baking