Irish soda bread is so easy to make with just a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. It’s simple, rustic, and can be a great addition to accompany any comforting Irish soup or stew.
The secret ingredient is buttermilk, a cultured dairy product that helps the dough rise quick. In just a half hour, you’ll have a hearty rustic loaf that’s oh so decadent with a dab of Irish butter or strawberry jam.
Really, you don’t need a lot of ingredients or fussy instructions to make Irish soda bread. It should be simple, quick, and easy.
Learning to make Irish soda bread at Larchfield Estate in Northern Ireland.
While visiting Belfast for a conference, a group of us spent the afternoon just outside of town at Larchfield Estate. It’s a beautiful historic home that’s been lovingly renovated by the current owners. The property is well equipped to host groups for weddings and events and such. We were hosted for a few hours for a cooking class and dinner in their historic kitchen. (I was seriously fan-girling a bit because it reminded me of Downton Abbey)
A lovely candle lit dinner set in the kitchen at Larchfield Estate.
Baking Irish Soda Bread On A Skillet
We learned how to make Irish soda bread, and since there was a group of us, we baked it on a skillet! Yes, eight loaves baked on a skillet!
So, this Irish soda bread recipe is not only the real deal, but it’s versatile too. You can bake it, cook it on a stove top, or even whip it up on a cast iron skillet while camping. I love it.
Skillet baked Irish Soda Bread
A Few Recipe Tips:
This is one baking recipe where you don’t have to be *exact* in the measurements. Have some extra flour and buttermilk on hand so you can add a bit more of each if necessary.
I like to make small, 6 or 7 inch round loaves, but the recipe can easily be doubled if you want to make two loaves to have for a dinner party, or to have one extra for breakfast in the morning.
Oven baked Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread
A hearty round loaf of authentic Irish Soda Bread that's easy to bake.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix together your dry ingredients: the flour, baking soda, and salt.
While stirring the flour mixture, slowly pour in the buttermilk until the dough forms a nice sticky ball. You may add a sprinkling more of flour if needed.
Coat your hands with flour and pick up the dough in the bowl, kneading it gently with your hands and forming a ball.
Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. You can score an X into the dough to help it expand and create a fun design along the crust. Just sprinkle some flour onto a sharp knife and cut an X into the dough. Though, the scoring of an X isn't necessary.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown. The bread should have a hallow sound when tapped.
Cool the bread on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Serve warm with some Irish butter and jam.
Notes
You can also bake this soda bread on a skillet set on medium heat. Add approx 5 minutes to the cook time and flip it half way through. It will be a bit more flat, like a giant biscuit, but tastes wonderful.
Irish soda bread is so easy to make with just a few ingredients. It’s simple, rustic, and can be a great addition to accompany any soup or stew. | thetravelbite.com | #IrishRecipes #Bread #Baking #IrishSodaBread
Rachelle, I love Irish soda bread and Irish brown (soda) bread. I make mine a little differently, but this looks good, too! And I love the story behind it. Would love to go to Ireland one day!