Table of Contents
Irish Soda Bread
The summer of my 15th year was spent in Ireland, friendships and memories were formed that will last my entire life. Irish Soda Bread was plenty as was tea, late night French fries and friendships!
Nicer people I have yet to meet, everyone I came across seemed genuine. My Grammy went over often to visit friends and family and that summer I was lucky enough to join her.
I have so many wonderful memories…I have yet to go back, even though I really want to...maybe it's because I just don't know how can I compete with a summer full of me being a "local" – there were a ton of kids my age, some my distant relatives and some their friends.
I spent endless hours roaming the fields and countryside, "ran" the pigs, went to the bog and cut the turf (which helps heat the homes), stayed outside in an enormous field almost till dawn one night, with everyone from the town I was in, as hay was being baled and came
I even home with an accent... for real! It only lasted a few days, I guess when you spend your whole summer listening to everyone around you talk in the musical and infectious Irish lilt, it takes hold of you a bit.
That summer had an impact on my life:
1. Tea was served no less than 5 times a day – a full spread, chocolates, biscuits, chocolate scones and did I mention chocolates…I had no clue how into the chocolate the Irish are! The result…. I love tea! And the biscuits and of course the Irish Soda Bread!!
2. Potatoes were served in every way imaginable, the best was most nights around 8 pm or so they would fry up batches…..OMG! The result…I really love potatoes!
3. I witnessed first hand what was going on in Northern Ireland at the time.
The result….I am always aware and grateful for where I live.
4. Milk was put out at night in a small bowl for the fairies!
The result….I believe in fairies! (Seriously)
5. I forged relationships and bonds that have lasted and I think always will!
The result...Just this past summer (2013) the closest relationship I made came to visit us here in the US - My 9-year-old daughter now has an amazing new friendship with her 2 daughters. They talk every weekend via Facetime for hours - I now HAVE to get my kids over there for a summer visit 🙂
That summer I learned to dance more freely, kissed a boy, made lifelong friends AND all that eating during all of those fabulous "Tea’s" sent me home with the some of the curves I had been dreaming of for a loooong time! I was a late bloomer lol!
When I eat Irish Soda Bread, I remember being in Ireland as well as so many wonderful gatherings at my Grammy’s, and I just love that a simple loaf of bread can do that.
Here is my version – It is a little more cake-like and sweeter than traditional Irish Soda Bread, but you know what - My Irish "people" LOVE this.
When I made it for them while they were here I was grimacing thinking they would be like "what the heck did you do to soda bread, Lol...But they loved it and my friend Brid said it was similar to how her mom made it, which made me very happy. I always make this in my Great Grandmom O'Donnells' cast iron skillet that is 100 years old and counting! Love that!!
2 things I have to say about this ISB - Always serve it warm (either hot out of the oven or reheated just a bit) and always smear butter over one side of each wedge. Truly, nothing better!
Bain sult as! (Gaelic for Enjoy!)
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups of flour
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- dash of salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 cups raisins
- 2 cups buttermilk
- ½ cup cup heavy cream
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Use a 10-12 inch ovenproof skillet with 2-inch or better sides or 2 cake pans. Cut a circle of parchment paper out and line your pan(s). Whisk the first 5 ingredients in a large bowl until blended.
- Add in the butter and raisins and stir well.
- Add buttermilk, heavy cream and egg to the dry ingredients and stir until incorporated - do not over mix and do nit use a mixer for this, use a spatula by hand.
- Pour mixture into pan(s) and cook for one hour or until toothpick or skewer inserted comes out dry. For smaller loaves, check after 45 minutes, it will most likely be done at the 1 hour mark. Once a wooden skewer inserted comes out not "wet" it's done. Cool a bit then flip out of the pan(s) and peel off parchment paper.
- Serve warm out of the oven with a bit of butter or heat up a slice in your microwave anytime and enjoy the added perk of the wonderful smell in your home! I love to bring this to new neighbors as a hello!
Monica H says
Your bread looks gorgeous. If I had chocolate and scones and biscuits and more chocolate with tea, I might like it too 🙂
Sue says
My waist line after just returning from visiting my mum attests to the love of "sweets" in Ireland (Sweets being candy) . I have a stash of Irish Chocolate cookies in my cupboard ...LOL.
I am off to read some more of your blog...it looks like fun! I am also adding you to my Google reader.
Hey...did you not learn to smoke when you were in Ireland? Both my boys came home smoking even after I threatened my nephew with death if he let them...I knew they would LOL. (They don't anymore TG)
Oh...and I made scones today that look like your bread 🙂
Meghan says
YUM! I halfed the recipe and used milk/lemon juice in place of buttermilk (which I never have on hand) and it turned out delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
This sounds fabulous. but your summer sounds, like way better! I'm ready!
Heather says
I come by way of Pinterest. I made this tonight to accompany the Bangers & Mash I made in honor of St. Patty's Day for my 6yo daughter who, for some reason, was very into the holiday this year. I've never had soda bread and I feel like I've somehow missed out on something so delightful my whole life! This was WONDERFUL! It reminded me of a really moist scone almost. We used a 10" iron skillet, and there were only 3 of us, so...we have a ton left! I'm sending it to school with my daughter tomorrow since her teacher just read a story about Ireland in which the little girl had soda bread. What's left from that I'm making french toast out of in the morning. I saw that idea on Pinterest and that just sounds insane. Anyhow, your recipe was top notch! I like the mild sweetness and it was very moist. I liked it even better with butter and honey! This recipe has been printed and will go in my recipe box. It was very simple to make and turned out fabulously. Thank you for sharing your experience in Ireland and this delicious recipe!
Heather says
Also, I did the nutrition work up on this so I thought I'd share for those interested. I did it as 12 servings, and the iron does not take into account that I used an iron skillet, which would up that percentage. Oh, and 1/12 was a HUGE piece!!
1 serving = 1/12 of loaf. Calories 448, Fat 9g, Cholesterol 40g, Sodium 339mg, Carbs 86g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 44g, Protein 8g, Iron 90%
Britt says
If you compare this to almost any other Irish Soda Bread recipe, the ratio of wet to dry ingredients is insanely off.
If you make it as is, do so in a cake pan since it will turn out more like a quick bread/cake. I did ultimately get it to work out on my 3rd try with MAJOR adjustments.
I took the baking soda and powder to 1.5 teaspoons, each. I also cut in 5 tablespoons of COLD butter, and reduced the buttermilk to 1.5 cups. I also reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup which made for nice flavor and browning but without the sweetness of the cake I was mentioning at first. This all made the dough more traditionally craggy and amazing with butter. In the end this was not a good recipe since it required so much amending.
Colleen says
Thanks for your feedback, however, I do state that my version is cake-like and sweeter. If you stick to the recipe as is, you do get something a little different than the typically dry ISB. Which is one reason so many people love it and it has won a number of contests 🙂
LeeAnna says
I made this Irish Soda Bread for our St. Patrick's Day breakfast and it came out perfectly! Traditional Irish Soda Bread is drier and not as sweet, which is not at all what I wanted. This soda bread was a perfectly moist, and just the right amount of sweet. It was a huge hit at our house and we will be having this recipe as our go-to Irish soda bread from now on.
Colleen says
Yes!! WHich is why I tinkerd and tinkered over the years, lol! SO glad it was a hit!
Denise says
I am about to make this as it sounds absolutely delicious. But before I do, I just have one question regarding the butter. The recipe just says 1/2 cup butter softened. Do you cut the butter into cubes and then cut it into the flour mixture, or do you just mix 1 stick if softened butter into the flour mixture. Somehow I can't imagine just stiring in
1/2 cup of softened butter in the flour mixture.
Colleen says
Just seeing this (recovering from COVID). I often just melt the butter and add it that way. Works just fine!
Cindy Orman says
I just took mine out of the oven - it looks and smells amazing!! I was re-reading the recipe and realized that I forgot the butter!!!!
Oh no!!! I won’t tell anyone tomorrow at our potluck lunch - hopefully no one will notice!
Colleen says
Oh no! How did it come out without the butter I wonder. Hope it was ok! in the end!
Lucia Wheele says
Can I use a Dutch Oven to cook the ISB in?
Colleen says
I can't see why not. No lid and use parchment paper.
Michelle says
Hi I’ve had the typical soda bread that a friend would buy at a bakery every year for us. Your soda bread sounds delicious and I’m definitely going to make it. I was wondering if I could make it without the raisins? Or maybe substitute the raisins for something else. However, I’d really like to make it without raisins. Looking forward to your reply. Michelle
Colleen says
Hi Michelle, if you dislike raisins, I LOVE making it with fresh cranberries. You could also used dried cranberries or cherries or blueberries or even fresh blueberries. Enjoy!
Lucy says
Bread was really delicious! Next time I may add slightly less raisins. I thought at first this was a lot of sugar but the taste was spot on.
Colleen says
Awesome Lucy! It really is so yummy! I like raisins but yes, add as many or as few as you enjoy! It is also WONDERFUL with fresh cranberries during the holidays. See my Cranberry Soda Bread recipe for the slight variations.