The Best Irish Soda Bread
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 1 loaf
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 10 servings
- Calories
- 269
- Total Fat
- 7
- Saturated Fat
- 4
- Carbohydrates
- 46
- Dietary Fiber
- 2
- Sugar
- 12
- Protein
- 7
- Cholesterol
- 34
- Sodium
- 233
- Total: 1 hr 15 min
- Active: 15 min
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface (see Cook's Note)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter cut into cubes
2/3 cup dried currants
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
Irish butter, for serving
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line an 8-inch round cake pan with a large sheet of parchment paper, pressing it into the edges of the pan and leaving an overhang on 2 sides (the extra parchment will help you unmold the loaf later).
- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. Add the butter cubes to the flour mixture and toss to combine. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut or rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the currants and caraway seeds.
- Whisk the buttermilk and egg together in a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the buttermilk mixture into the center. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to stir the mixture until it starts to come together in a shaggy mass.
- Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Turn the dough mixture out onto the floured surface and knead a few times to bring it together. Shape it into a domed disk. Place the dough into the prepared cake pan and cut a cross about 1/2-inch deep into the surface of the dough with a sharp knife. Bake until the top is puffed and lightly browned and a cake tester comes out clean, 60 to 75 minutes. Remove from the oven and use the parchment overhang to lift the bread from the pan. Place on a wire rack to cool completely. Serve with good Irish butter.
Cook’s Note
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)