St. Paddy’s Day Must-Have: Homemade Irish Soda Bread
Updated March 10, 2024
I’m not of Irish descent, but like many Americans, I enjoy observing St. Patrick’s Day. We always have my homemade Irish soda bread to accompany my oven-roasted corned beef and cabbage dinner (future post idea!).
I didn’t experience soda bread when growing up. In fact, my college roommate from a very Irish family introduced it to me. It wasn’t for many years later that I made it myself, following my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook, and eventually tweaking the recipe so much, I created my own recipe.
Over the years, it became a special foodie splurge and St. Patrick’s Day tradition. After living in London (see London Finds Me in My Dreams post), I became enamored with scones, and this bread has a similar consistency and flavor. Especially with a smear of Kerrygold Irish butter.
I typically make several batches to give loaves away and put a few in the freezer. For me, a smaller batch is about 10 loaves when compared to 18 I made one year! Because of the number of loaves I typically make, I use my KitchenAid mixer which makes the process move along more efficiently. It’s still a messy project, but it’s totally worth it. This is especially true when I have one of my grandkids cooking by my side!
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 5 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 sticks cold butter cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk (use reduced fat if available)
- 1 cup raisins (mix of golden and black)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (325° F convection).
- Add dry ingredients into Kitchenaid mixer bowl or large bowl if mixing by hand. Mix ingredients.
- Add in butter. Mixer: Use the paddle attachment and mix on slow speed. By hand: Use a pastry blender to incorporate. Mixture should look like coarse crumbs.
- Add in raisins and give a quick mix.
- Add in buttermilk. Mixer: Start out with 1 cup; then slowly add in the rest until the mixture begins to form a soft dough. Place dough on floured surface. Divide dough into two balls. By hand: Pour the buttermilk and mix until just moistened. Mixing with your hands works best. If the dough doesn’t start to stick together, add in a little more buttermilk. Be careful to not use too much liquid. Place dough on floured surface and knead about 10 to 12 times. Divide into two balls.
- Shape loaves: Form into round loaves about 2 ½ inches thick. Place on a lightly greased sheet pan. Cut an "X" on top of dough, about 1/2-inch deep.
- Bake about 50 minutes to an hour (depends on your oven). Reposition sheet pan as needed if the breads cook unevenly. Cover the breads loosely with foil if they start getting too brown. Remember to check the bread inside the "X" to make sure it’s not raw. You don’t want the bread to be undercooked.
- Cool completely on wire rack. Wrap in foil.
- These breads freeze very well. Make sure they’re tightly double wrapped with foil. When defrosting, let them thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
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This looks so good! Thanks for sharing.
Yum! This homemade Irish soda bread recipe sounds delicious. Thank you for the easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for me to make it for St. Patrick’s Day!
It looks so delicious. Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to try it! 🥰
This looks good! I love getting my grandkids to help in the kitchen too. They love it and I want them to enjoy cooking when they get older.
This is cool, they look yummy and have not tried this type of bread. Thank you for sharing and making it easy to follow the steps.
Looks good! I am going to give it a try!
A simple recipe that brings great outcome! Love this bread.
I’ve never heard of soda bread. This looks simple and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your recipe. It’s been a long time since I last made Irish soda bread. I can’t wait to try your gift-worthy recipe!!
Looks delish! Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Looks and sounds so delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe! 🤗
This sounds so amazing! I wonder if it would be good with dried cherries instead of raisins…
This bread is almost like a scone so I think dried cherries would be great. I’ve tried with chopped dried apricots and it was wonderful!
This looks so good. I’m definitely going to try this out. Thanks so much for sharing.
Such an easy and delicious bread! Thank you for the recipe!
I tried making Irish soda bread one year. I thought to myself, how hard can it be, my Grandma made it all the time pre-Google. Mine came out horrible even following the step-by-step instructions. I will have to try this recipe to have a success this year. Thanks for sharing!
It’s amazing how a simple bread can bring so much joy and anticipation. Can’t wait to see how your batches turn out!
I’ve never tried soda bread, but this looks yummy, I’ll have to try your recipe 😉
Excellent texture and taste. Planning to make another batch for the St. Patrick’s event at my church. Thanks for the excellent recipe!
I haven’t tried this yet. Saving it for a special day!!
These look delicious! I’ve never tried Irish soda bread before. I will have to give it a go!
Excellent! And especially with Kerrygold Irish butter!
My husband loves Irish Soda Bread. I can’t wait to make this for him. Looks delicious!
Always so good! Love seeing Lily learning from you. ❤️
Lily and I were discussing our next cooking project tonight! 🙂
I love making soda bread each year and your recipe is so similar to mine. It’s a bit cakey for a bread but so good! I also use two types of raisins! I’m so excited to try yours and compare! Always looking to make a better bread! 🙂
It took me years to get to this recipe and finally using the mixer, so I hope you’ll enjoy it. Would love to see your recipe!
This looks so good, and so easy! I can’t wait to try it!
I always made it by hand but putting in the mixer really makes it so quick. Dough comes together so nicely.
Love it!!! You’re an amazing Meme! You always find a way to share your great baking skills and traditions with lucky 🍀 children! I was blessed to be one of them. ❤️ I have learned so much from your experiences, traditions and knowledge. How blessed am I! 💜
I am blessed, too! XO
I’m so glad my Dad’s Irish Soda Bread started you down this path ❤️❤️❤️ . This recipe looks great!
Gorgeous! I need to make this. Great pics. Fun article. (Small credit to college roommate!)
Yum! I can’t wait to taste it! This is a family favorite every year!🍀🍀🍀
That’s a lot of baking! And thanks for sharing your recipe. 🙂
Looks delicious. I will have to try.