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This Irish Soda Bread is simply epic! You canmake this beautiful loaf with simple common ingredients already found in your pantry! This is the only Irish Soda Bread recipe you’ll ever need!
OMG! Can you believe that this round perfect loaf with a criss-cross top can come out of your oven? Yes, believe it, believe it! Absolutely no baking experience is needed to make this beautiful Irish Soda Bread. This recipe is so easy and foolproof, there is absolutely no way to mess it up – no way whatsoever!
I’ve never seen a bread recipe as easy as this one! No kneading,no waiting for the dough to rise – just mix all ingredients, shape into a ball, cut the X on top and bake! Yes, making this pretty criss-cross crack on the top is that easy – just cut a cross into the dough with a knife, and it will bake into the criss-cross crust perfection!
Unlike the typical Irish soda bread recipes that use buttermilk, this one uses regular milk. After all, who’s got a bottle of buttermilk in the fridge? :) Not me, that’s for sure! This easy Irish Soda Bread recipe is using a mixture of milk and white vinegar instead of buttermilk. If you do want to use real buttermilk, you certainly can – just replace the milk and vinegar with 1 3/4 cup buttermilk.
So here is the Irish Soda Bread ingredient list: flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, milk, white vinegar and raisins – I told you the ingredients were simple :) Also, sugar and raisins are optional – feel free to leave them out. With just 2 tbsp of sugar, this Irish Soda Bread is still asavory bread, not a sweet bread. It has just a touch of sweetness – just right! Andit’s so yummy with raisins!
If you want a traditional Irish Soda Bread like they make in Ireland, leave out the sugar and raisins. Authentic Irish version has just 4 ingredients – flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. The quantitiesof ingredients and the method of preparationremain the same!
This Irish Soda Bread is AMAZING with butter! Of course, every bread goes well with butter, but this one especially :) You owe it to yourself to butter this delicious Irish bread slice and eat it all up!
How To Make Irish Soda Bread Without Buttermilk
Step 1: Make The Dough
Mix milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside for 5 minutes, then combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix so they turn into dough.
Step 2:Shape Into A Flattened Ball
Put the dough on parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and shape into a flattened ball 8 inches in diameter.
Step 3: Cut a cross on top
With a sharp knife, cut an X through the dough on top (1/2 inch deep).
Step 4: Bake in a pre-heated 400F oven for 40 minutes.
That’s all there is to it! I told you that making this Irish Soda Bread with raisins was super easy :)
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Easy Irish Soda Bread With Raisins
This is the best Irish Soda Bread recipe ever! Super easy to make, this bread is so beautiful and tastes amazing! Uses all common ingredients already found in your pantry - no buttermilk needed!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 12 servings
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Put the milk and vinegar in a bowl, stir with a spoon and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a spoon again.
Put flour, baking soda, salt and sugar in another large bowl and stir to combine. Add the milk and vinegar mixture and raisins. Mix until all flour is incorporated (when the mixture is too tough to mix with a spoon, start mixing it with your hands).
Put the dough ball on a baking sheet. Shape the dough into flattened ball shape 8 inches in diameter. If the dough is too sticky to shape, wash your hands and then sprinkle your hands and the dough lightly with flour.
Cut an X on top of the dough circle with a sharp knife, about 1/2 inch deep.
Put the bread in the oven on the middle rack. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
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FAQs
Since most soda bread recipes I've seen call for between 1 1/2 - 2 cups of buttermilk (enough to achieve a soft, slightly sticky dough) this shouldn't be a problem. And if you don't have either buttermilk or yogurt, you can just use whole milk, adding a tablespoon of vinegar per cup.
Why is buttermilk used in soda bread? ›
For buttermilk to taste sweet (i.e. not sour) its acidity would need to be fully neutralized by the baking soda. That tells us that its primary purpose was to leaven the dough, making soda bread particularly light, fluffy, and oh-so-slightly alkaline.
How do you eat Irish soda bread with raisins? ›
The slices are delicious simply spread with butter, jam, or marmalade. This bread can be toasted, too. Soda bread can be paired with any meal of the day. You can even bake it without the raisins to make a loaf to serve with savory dishes like soup, meat dishes, or to use for sandwiches.
What do you use if you don't have buttermilk? ›
6 best buttermilk substitutes
- Milk and lemon juice. ...
- Milk and vinegar. ...
- Plain yogurt and milk. ...
- Soured cream. ...
- Cultured buttermilk powder. ...
- Kefir.
And finally, don't immediately cut into the Fast Irish Soda bread when you pull it out of the oven. Although this bread is best served warm, cutting into it too quickly will turn the bread gummy.
Why is my Irish soda bread so dry? ›
It's important to remember no to overmix your ingredients. Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread, similar to a scone, but can easily become dry if overmixed. Quickly add the wet ingredients to a well you've made in the dry ingredients, and mix with your hands or a dough hook until it just comes together.
Why cut a cross in Irish soda bread? ›
The Southern Irish regions bake their loaves in a classic round fashion and cut a cross on top of the bread. This was done for superstitious reasons, as families believed a cross on top of the bread would let the fairies out or ward off evil and protect the household.
Is there a difference between soda bread and Irish soda bread? ›
Sweeter Soda Bread
On this side of the Atlantic, what we call "Irish soda bread" is more rich and sweet, usually studded with raisins and caraway seeds. These cakey, scone-like loaves often include eggs and butter for tenderness and more flavor.
What's the difference between Irish bread and Irish soda bread? ›
Irish brown bread has a deep, nutty flavor because of its wheat flour and wheat bran while soda bread uses only white flour. Soda bread is slightly sweet and more scone-like while Irish brown bread is more savory with a tender interior.
What do Irish people eat with soda bread? ›
Irish Pub Fare: Pair the soda bread with classic pub fare such as shepherd's pie or bangers and mash. The hearty nature of the bread definitely belongs in the same 'comfort food' family as these dishes. Corned Beef and Cabbage: This bread is perfect alongside a traditional St.
The most traditional doneness test calls for thumping the hot bread in the center to hear if it's hollow-sounding. A more foolproof indication is temperature; the loaf will register 200°F to 205°F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted in the center of the bread.
Should you refrigerate Irish soda bread? ›
Tightly wrap your leftover bread and place it in an airtight container. There's no need to refrigerate. As for how long soda bread lasts: Irish soda bread tends to dry out faster than other breads. The bread will be good for 3-4 days or up to three months if frozen.
What is another name for Irish soda bread? ›
Spotted Dog/ Railway Cake— Different names are used in different parts of Ireland, but this recipe has the addition of raisins or currents to the dough, usually along with butter and sugar. Seedy Bread—Traditional Irish soda bread with the addition of caraway seeds and a little sugar.
Does baking soda need buttermilk? ›
Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) needs acidic ingredients to activate, so it is used in baking recipes that contain buttermilk, brown sugar, molasses, lemon juice, sour cream, cocoa powder, etc.
Can you substitute buttermilk for milk in bread? ›
You can substitute buttermilk for regular milk in just about any baking recipe, cup for cup - but some experts advise making sure the recipe includes at least ½ teaspoon baking soda per cup of buttermilk. If the recipe calls for only baking powder, replace enough of the powder with baking soda to meet this requirement.
How does buttermilk affect bread? ›
Buttermilk is the secret ingredient that takes bread to new heights. It imparts a gentle acidity and creaminess to the dough, resulting in a tender texture and a unique flavor profile. This ingredient enhances the overall quality of the bread.
Can I use heavy cream instead of buttermilk for bread? ›
If your recipe relies on buttermilk as a leavening agent, heavy cream won't do. Buttermilk has a sour taste. Sometimes, bakers add buttermilk because of its unique sour taste.
