Moist and full of raisins, this easy Irish Soda Bread is a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Slather a piece with butter and enjoy throughout March!
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This sweet Irish soda bread recipe is a fun and delicious breakfast to make throughout March! It's easy to make too! No need to knead the dough on a lightly floured surface, this dough is added to loaf pans and baked to perfection!
It's not just for breakfast either! It's a delicious everyday bread to serve with cold butter and a steaming cup of coffee or cup of tea. The slight sweetness of the raisins and the sugar make this bread perfect any time of day!
What is Irish Soda Bread?
Irish Soda Bread is different than yeasted breads because it uses baking soda to get the bread to rise. It's considered a quick bread. It is full of dried fruit like raisins and sometimes even has caraway seeds in it.
Full disclosure, my family is in no way, shape, or form Irish. This version of Irish soda bread probably not a traditional Irish Soda Bread. That's because it uses 2 cups of sour cream instead of 2 cups buttermilk.
Ingredients to Note
Flour- You'll need all purpose flour, bread flour, or your favorite white flour for this recipe. If you want, you can even do a combination of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour. This will add a little more fiber and a nuttier taste to the bread.
Baking Soda- Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) is what gives the Irish "Soda" Bread it's name. Instead of being a yeast bread that relies on yeast and letting the dough proof and rise, the baking soda is the leavening agent we will use.
Sour Cream- Because we are using baking soda to get the bread to rise, you need an acid to activate the baking soda. The sour cream acts as that acid to activate the baking soda. Traditionally, Irish Soda Bread has buttermilk, but I think the sour cream gives the bread a moister, denser crumb making it perfect to toast and melt butter over.
Raisins- Use regular raisins or golden raisins in this recipe, both would be equally as good. Caraway seeds are often added to Irish Soda Bread, but for this recipe we are not adding any.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
This bread is very heavy and thick, so if you have a stand mixer I would suggest using it.
In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients to the bowl. Mix on low until everything is combined and the dough is cohesive. When combined, the dough is very sticky, so don't be alarmed if it seems wetter than it should be.
Grease and flour two loaf pans. Make sure to grease and flour two loaf pans really well because this bread will stick to the sides.
Evenly divide the dough between the two loaf pans and mark a slit in the top of the bread if you can. The dough is very wet so it might be difficult to do so, but try to get as many slits in the loaf as you can.
Bake the bread at 375 degrees for at least 1 hour, or until a sharp knife is inserted into the middle and it comes out clean. Turn the loaves onto a wire rack and allow them to cool before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Line the loaf pans with parchment paper to make sure the Irish soda bread will come out of the loaf pans easily.
- If you prefer a round loaf, cook the loaf in a parchment paper lined cast-iron skillet or heavy bottomed Dutch oven.
- If you want to freeze this bread, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a Ziploc bag for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use a loaf pan or I used a cast iron skillet for these pictures. Just be use to butter and flour whatever vessel you are using. Because the dough is so wet, I wouldn't suggest baking it directly on a regular baking sheet in the oven. It would not be able to hold it's shape.
It's not. This bread uses baking powder as well as baking soda and does not have caraway seeds. It also uses sour cream instead of buttermilk. This recipe was given to my grandmother from one of her friends way back in the day. It's become a family favorite and I wanted to share with everyone this delicious bread even if it is a little different than classic Irish soda bread.
Once the bread is cooled to room temperature, it will last for about a week on the counter in a Ziploc bag or cut into pieces and stored in an airtight container. If you want so freeze it, once again wait until it cools and then put it in a Ziploc bag. It will freeze well for about three months. Let it thaw on the counter and then serve.
Yes! To make this bread without a stand mixer, add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix it with a wooden spoon or a pastry cutter to make sure all the ingredients mix together well.
Other Delicious Recipes to Try!
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Easy Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 4 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 cup Raisins
- 16 oz Full Fat Sour Cream
- 3 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°.
- Grease and flour two loaf pans or one large cast iron skillet. Make sure to grease and flour them well so the bread does not stick.
- Mix all the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix on low for 2-3 minutes until the dough comes together. The dough will be very wet and sticky.
- Pour the dough into the two prepared loaf pans or cast iron skillet. Bake for one hour or until a knife is inserted into the middle and comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before cutting.
Notes
- Irish Soda Bread will last in a Ziploc bag for about a week, or frozen in a Ziploc bag for up to three months.
- You can make this recipe in two loaf pans or one large cast iron skillet.
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