Chef John's Irish Soda Bread recipe

All Recipes Bread Quick Bread Recipes Irish Soda Bread Recipes

Ingredients

3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup rolled oats
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1 ¾ cups buttermilk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons honey, or more to taste
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants
⅓ cup golden raisins

Nutrition Info

194.8 calories
carbohydrate: 36 g
cholesterol: 20.3 mg
fat: 3.9 g
fiber: 2.1 g
protein: 5.1 g
saturatedFat: 2.1 g
servingSize: -
sodium: 381.7 mg
sugar: 11.7 g
transFat: : -
unsaturatedFat: : -

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

  2. Whisk all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.

  3. Beat buttermilk, egg, honey, and orange zest together in a bowl. Pour buttermilk mixture, currants, and raisins into flour mixture, stir with a wooden spoon until a wet, sticky dough comes together.

  4. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface, press dough together into a soft ball of dough and cut into 2 pieces. Form each half into a smooth, round loaf. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and let rest for 15 minutes. Cut a 1/2-inch deep \"X\" into the top of each loaf with a serrated knife.

  5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 45 minutes. Transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Recipe Yield

2 loaves

Recipe Note

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a loaf or two of Irish soda bread? If made correctly, this is one of the best quick breads (those leavened without yeast) you'll ever have. Subtly sweet, with a light, tender crumb, and not at all dry. You can use quick-cooking oats in place of rolled oats, if desired.

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