Perfected and approved by real Irish persons, for your pleasure, this Irish Soda Bread is amazingly easy to make.
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As you may know, St Patrick’s Day is my favorite holiday. In fact, I love all things Celtic – even my wedding ring has emeralds and Celtic knots on it – and I’ve always had a thing for Ireland and the Irish people. I can literally take on a light brogue just thinking about it. (In fact, as I write this, I’m falling into it).
My affinity for Ireland dates back to before I can remember, so it should be no surprise that every St. Pat’s Day is a real celebration at our house. On that day each year, I serve up a feast of “Once-a-Year” mashed potatoes (so called because they are so rich and creamy you should only eat them once a year), slow-cooked corned beef, corn, cabbage, and soda bread; and then I usually throw in something new year to year to mix things up.
However, before even one fork full passes, I deliver my compulsory pre-St Patrick’s Day dinner monologue (which I will share with you one of these years) about the fascinating and inspiring life of the real man who become St Patrick. It takes all of about three minutes, and my kids sigh and groan and laugh through it every year. At this point, they can repeat it almost verbatim. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Today I am sharing with you one of my most prized St. Pat’s recipes: my Irish Soda Bread. Perfected and approved by real Irish persons, for your pleasure, this Soda Bread is amazingly easy to make.
(If you are interested learning more about St Patrick, I highly recommend reading How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill.)
St Pat’s Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup white sugar Use 1/3 cup if you like your Soda Bread a little less sweet.
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups raisins I use a mix of golden and craisions. Just use your favorite raisin.
- 2 teaspoons caraway seeds Optional. (Not really.)
- 1¼ cups buttermilk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup melted butter melted (I use salted butter.)
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
Brush on Top
- 2 Tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9-inch round cast iron skillet or 9-inch round baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins and caraway seeds.
- In a medium bowl, buttermilk and sour cream and melted butter. Blend in eggs.
- Fold the flour mixture into the liquid mixture, mixing just until well combined. Knead dough in bowl about 10 to 15 strokes. Dough will be very sticky. Mound the dough in the prepared skillet or pan using a spatula or wooden spoon. (Don’t use a mixture for this – it will bake up too heavy.)
- In a small bowl, combine 2 Tbls. melted butter with 2 Tbls. buttermilk; brush the mounded dough/loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp, wet knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.
- Allow dough to rest in the pan for about 20 minutes before putting into oven. (This step is optional, but the “rest” time will give you a lighter loaf in the end.)
- Bake preheated oven for 60 to 75 minutes. You can brush the loaf with the buttermilk/butter mixture once or twice during baking if you wish. Test loaf for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center – it should come out clean.
- Let cool and turn bread onto a wire rack.
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Ha, I love picturing you as a young lass with the flair for the dramatic as you tell your tale to your playmates. I can’t believe you haven’t made it to Ireland yet! I
As I read your story, I can picture you as a child weaving those great tales and enchanting all of your friends. . . Love it even more to find out that you DO have Irish in you! Love it! Can you make Irish Soda Bread without raisins?
Looking back, I guess I was a little bit of a dramatist: in addition to the Irish thing, I also convinced almost every child in my first grade class that I spoke fluent French. Lucky I went on to become a writer so that I can use my story-telling powers for good!
Of course you can make Soda Bread without raisins! I personally don’t like dark raisins at all, but I do like the sweetness that the golden raisins bring to it. The craisins are a new addition for me this year.
the soda bread looks wonderful. i’ll be making some too!
That bread looks delicious!
Your bread looks great and love you cast iron pan 😉
I’m with you – it is always such a fun holiday to celebrate – and a st. patty’s day meal would not be complete without the soda bread
I’ll trade you your Sister Pat’s soda bread for our family recipe from Sister Mary. Anyway, this looks wonderful – a real treat even if the Irish don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the way Irish Americans do.
Oops – I just realized that your’s is not Sister Pat’s but St. Pat’s. That’s what I get for reading too quickly. Still a great recipe:)