Irish Soda Bread
No rise time needed for this simple, delicious bread! This golden, homemade loaf is filled with sweet raisins and a touch of vanilla for just the right amount of sweetness. It’s an easy recipe to enjoy fresh from the oven and makes a wonderful addition to breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat.
Prep Time
7 Mins
Cook Time
39 Mins
Serves
10
Ingredients
- 4 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk – cold
- 1 cup raisins
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter – cold
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
Preparation
- Pre-heat oven to 425º F.
- Line 5 qt dutch oven with parchment paper
- Place buttermilk, honey, egg and vanilla in medium bowl and whisk. Vanilla is optional but it plays off the sweetness of the raisins very well.
- In a large bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Cut butter into four pieces.
- Place flour mixture into a food processor with butter and process until butter and flour form a crumble mixture.
- Return flour mixture to large bowl and create a well in the center.
- Pour in your wet ingredient mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until dough is too heavy to stir any longer.
- Fold in the raisins.
- Flour your hands and begin to form a dough ball. Keep in mind that the dough will remain shaggy and flaky in texture. It will not be smooth.
- Flour your work surface and set the dough on it. Work the dough into a round loaf with the goal of incorporating all the ingredients as just comes together. It will still be shaggy and loose.
- Place dough round into your dutch oven.
- Score an X across the surface of the dough.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. Surface should be golden brown and have a hollow sound on the surface when tapped.
- Let cool for minimum 1 hour. Too much sooner and the bread will be too hot in the center and crumble when slicing.
- Serve warm with butter.
