Name: Irish Soda Bread
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 70 min
Ingredients: 3 cups flour; ⅓ cup sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp baking powder; 1 tsp baking soda; 1 egg; 2 cups buttermilk*; ¼ cup butter, melted

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Click below to listen to this post about Irish Soda Bread on Candidly Kendra Eats:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hijacked my own blog today to bring to you a St. Paddy’s recipe that you just have to make today! I know, I know, Wednesdays are usually reserved for “Deep Thoughts with Kendra” of one sort or another. And recipes are supposed to be on FRIDAYS. (How many of you ever even realized that there was a pattern?)

But today’s recipe is worth the interruption, because this Irish soda bread is a requirement for St. Patrick’s Day!

Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, there are two directions you could go with your celebratory meal: You could make green foods (think pesto pasta, Telluride soup, green smoothies, Kale chips…you get it), or you can make traditional Irish (or American-“Irish” food), such as corned beef, au gratin potatoes, cabbage, and Irish soda bread.

Honestly, my Irish soda bread recipe isn’t the traditional form of the recipe. It’s a quick bread – technically and literally – it comes together in just over an hour. Cut this bread into generous slices and top it with green-tinted honey butter and your family will be singing your praises.

My Irish Soda Bread looks just like this! (I had to cheat because I haven’t made my Irish Soda Bread yet this year. This pic is Beer Bread by Persnickety Plates. I’m sure it’s amazing and you should make it one day, too!)

Irish Soda Bread Digest

Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees, because this is going to come together fast!
In a bowl, mix together 3 cups flour, 1 tbsp. baking powder, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. baking soda.
In a smaller bowl, mix 1 egg, 2 cups buttermilk, and 1/4 cup melted butter. (Tip for the buttermilk: in a pinch you can put 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a 2-cup measuring cup. Add milk to the 2-cup mark. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Now you have a buttermilk substitute!)
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Don’t overmix it, though.
Pour into a greased 9×5 loaf pan. (I always use a glass one for this recipe.) Bake for 60-70 minutes, until a knife inserted into center from the top comes out without any wet crumbs.
Serve with honey-butter: Mix softened butter and honey together until it tastes amazing. Add green food coloring if you want.
Keep leftovers wrapped in plastic wrap or in a ziploc bag.

Print Recipe

Irish Soda Bread

This bread will taste amazing with your St. Patrick's Day meal! Try it with honey butter and you'll never go back to basic bread again!

Prep Time5

Cook Time1 10

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: St. Patrick’s Day

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

3 cups flour
⅓ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 egg
2 cups buttermilk*
¼ cup butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°.
Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine egg, buttermilk, and butter.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients. Stir to combine. Avoid overmixing. Pour into a greased 9×5 loaf pan. (I use a glass one.) Bake for 60-70 minutes until a knife inserted into the center through the top comes out without wet crumbs.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges. Flip pan over to remove the bread. Serve the bread with honey-butter.

Notes

*To make a buttermilk substitute: Put 2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice into a 2-cup measure. Add milk to the 2-cup mark. Let sit for 5 minutes. Then use as directed.