Irish soda bread

This is absolutely the BEST Irish soda bread! If you want to feel Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, you should definitely give this bread a try!

As I type this I’m listening to Irish music and wishing I could eat out of this Irish soda bread right now! Seriously, I have a weakness for Irish soda bread, it’s just SO GOOD!!!

Our local grocery store sells Irish soda bread, and they usually have a little basket out for people to sample the bread. You’re lucky if you still find some in there because it usually goes pretty fast! Whenever we do find the basket full, it’s like we find gold and we’ll grab as many as we can without looking too rude. 😀 Before I tasted Irish soda bread for the first time, I kept hearing everyone talk about it and wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about. I mean, what was so special about a crusty bread called a “soda bread”? Is it just because it’s from Ireland and people want to feel Irish on St. Patrick’s Day?

To my amazement I found out that there really is something so deliciously amazing about this bread. The buttermilk and baking soda in the bread make a chemical reaction that causes it to rise, and it gives it that wonderful, almost biscuit-like texture. Not to mention that it’s slightly sweet and it has raisins, and that raw sugar on top becomes crunchy when it’s baked (which is the best part!). Plus it’s SO easy to make!

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and I usually don’t make a big deal to celebrate it. BUT, if you give me some delicious Shepherd’s Pie, and this amazing Irish soda bread, then I might change my mind. 🙂 Of course I don’t want my little sisters to pinch me so I might try to wear something green if I remember…

I could eat it every.single.day it’s that delicious. And I’m not even Irish! Or maybe I am and I don’t know? 🙂 I do love Ireland and I would love to visit that beautiful country one day. What could be better than eating a slice of this bread, slathered with Irish butter (oh yeah!) and some good quality jam? Now that’s how I like to celebrate my St. Patrick’s Day.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 stick butter (4 Tbsp)
2 cups raisins
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Raw sugar for the top

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.

In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients. Add the butter and cut in with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Mix in the raisins. Fold in egg and buttermilk into dry ingredients until blended. Turn dough onto floured surface and pull the dough together, kneading gently until it comes together. DO NOT OVER MIX! You can add a little more flour if dough is too wet. Divide the dough in half and shape into rounds. Place both balls of dough on your prepared baking sheet. Cut crosses on top, 1/2 in. deep. Lightly brush with some milk and sprinkle the whole surface with raw sugar. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Enjoy!