Irish Soda Bread...

Somehow I've misplaced an Irish Soda Bread recipe I've been making for years, but I found I had recently clipped this one from a March, 2003 Light & Tasty Taste of Home magazine.  My clipped recipe is just called Irish Soda Bread, but it's identical to the one at the link that is called Moist Irish Soda Bread.

Mine was a tad too moist, but I'll confess...  I added mostly-melted butter instead of cutting cold butter into the flour, but I think adding a bit more flour during the short kneading time so it wasn't quite so sticky would have solved the too moist issue.  That, and baking it about 10-15 minutes longer helped (even after I cut it - never mind that it's cut and pieced back together for the picture above).

I love the floury crust as much as the slightly sweet innards. 

Since the recipe is published and accessible on the TOH site, and I'm linking to it, I trust it's okay to share it here with my comments:


Irish Soda Bread:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cold butter

1 cup golden raisins  (I used dark raisins)

1-3/4 cups buttermilk  

    (I used whole milk with about ~ 1 Tbs bottled lemon juice added)

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add raisins. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; gently knead 6-8 times (adding flour as needed).

Place on an ungreased baking sheet (I used parchment paper over a baking stone).  Pat into a 7-in. round loaf. Using a sharp knife, cut a 1-in. cross about 1/4 in. deep on top of the loaf. Bake at 375° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. (Mine needed to bake about 50 minutes, but this will depend on how sticky-moist the dough is before baking).  Cool on a wire rack - if you can without cutting and tasting first. 

Or do as we do.  We don't even try to wait 'till a loaf of this is cool.  Tasting a slice of freshly baked bread is one of life's great, but simple pleasures.  😊