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Irish Soda Bread
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4 from 289 votes

Irish Soda Bread

This easy loaf of delicious bread needs no rising or kneading. Perfect recipe for the cook who thinks they cannot make bread. Try it!
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: Irish Soda Bread, Soda Bread
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: Kyle

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 Tablespoon for currants
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4 Tablespoons (½ stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch dice
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk, cold and shaken
  • 1 extra-large egg
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 1 cup dried currants

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F.
  • Cover a baking sheet with either parchment paper or a baking mat (affiliate links).
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer add the flour, sugar, baking soda, and the salt. Use the paddle attachment for mixing.
  • On a low speed, mix the butter into the flour mixture.
  • Separately, in a smaller bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg and the orange zest. Lightly mix with a fork until just barely combined.
  • Slowly add this egg and buttermilk mixture to the mixer bowl of flour and butter. Mix slowly until just combined.
  • In a small bowl, toss the currants in 1 Tablespoon of flour (this keeps the currants from sticking together and then add them to the dough mixture). Toss in the currants and combine with the dough.
  • Put a good amount of flour onto a cutting board or your counter. Scrape the dough from the bowl onto the floured surface (the dough will feel wet).
    Irish Soda Bread
  • Rub flour on your hands and then knead the dough only a few times. Form into a round loaf.
    Irish Soda Bread
  • With the tip of a sharp knife, lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a knife (history tells us that this was done to ward off evil and protect the household).
    Irish Soda Bread
  • Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 45 to 55 minutes.
  • Using the toothpick test, test the bread to make sure the bread is done. The toothpick should come out of the bread clean.
  • Try to let it cool a bit before you dig in!
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