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Irish Soda Bread · Classic Buttermilk

Classic Buttermilk Irish Soda Bread

Four ingredients, no yeast and no rising: stir, shape and bake for a crusty, tender loaf in about an hour. It is a great first bread and perfect with butter and soup.

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Prep
10 min
Cook
40 min
Total
1 hr 20 min
Serves
10 · 1 round loaf
Level
Easy

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (500 g), plus more for the counter
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar (optional)
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk, cold (415 ml), plus 1 to 2 tbsp if needed

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and sugar (if using) so the soda is evenly mixed in.
  3. Make a well in the center and pour in 1 1/2 cups of the buttermilk.
  4. Stir with a fork or one hand, moving in wide circles from the center out, until a soft, shaggy dough forms. Add the rest of the buttermilk if there are dry patches.
  5. Tip the dough onto a floured counter and fold it over itself 4 or 5 times, just until it holds together. Do not knead it like yeast bread.
  6. Pat it into a round about 7 inches across and 1 1/2 inches tall and set it on the pan.
  7. With a floured knife, cut a deep cross on top, about 1 inch deep, reaching almost to the edges.
  8. Bake at 425°F to set the crust.
  9. Lower the oven to 400°F (200°C) and keep baking until the loaf is deep golden, sounds hollow when tapped underneath, and reads 195 to 200°F in the center.
  10. Cool on a rack before slicing. Wrap it in a clean towel while it cools if you want a softer crust.

Tip: Mix gently and quickly. The baking soda starts working as soon as it meets the buttermilk, so get it into the oven right away.

Tip: No buttermilk? Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice into 1 3/4 cups of milk and let it sit 5 minutes.

Tip: For a sweet version, add 3/4 cup raisins and 2 more tablespoons of sugar to the dry ingredients.

Storage: Best the day it is made. Wrap and keep at room temperature up to 2 days; it toasts beautifully.

Estimated nutrition per serving: 200 calories · protein 7 g · carbohydrates 40 g · fiber 1 g · sugars 2 g · fat 1 g (saturated 0 g) · sodium 360 mg. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 4 of 4 ingredients.