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British/Irish · Baking

Irish Soda Bread

VegMedium

Diet: Veg

Irish Soda Bread is a British/Irish dish. Bake soon after adding buttermilk because the soda reacts immediately.

Prep
20 min
Cook
40 min
Rest, soak, marinate or chill
30 min
Total
90 min
Servings
10
Difficulty
Medium
Cuisine
British/Irish
Course
Baking

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

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Representative photograph of Irish Soda Bread. The photograph includes dried fruit; this recipe makes an unsweetened wholemeal soda bread.
The photograph includes dried fruit; this recipe makes an unsweetened wholemeal soda bread. Representative photograph of Irish Soda Bread. Garnishes and presentation may differ. Photo credit and licence
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Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 10

Dough

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; oven; baking tray; oven gloves; rolling pin; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.

Steps

Mix · About 7 min

  1. Heat oven to 200°C / 400°F. Mix dry ingredients from 250 g wholemeal flour, 250 g plain flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 420 ml buttermilk, then stir in buttermilk just until a soft dough forms.

    Check: Look for this result: a soft dough forms.

Shape · About 7 min

  1. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, shape a round without prolonged kneading and cut a deep cross in the top.

Bake · About 40 min

  1. Bake 35–40 minutes until well browned and hollow-sounding underneath. Cool on a rack 30 minutes.

    Check: Look for this result: well browned and hollow-sounding underneath.

Tips

  • Bake soon after adding buttermilk because the soda reacts immediately.
  • Judge Irish Soda Bread by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Irish Soda Bread takes to cook.

Substitutions

  • In Irish Soda Bread, replace buttermilk with plain yogurt thinned with milk.

Storage

  • Cool Irish Soda Bread promptly and refrigerate it covered within two hours. Above 32°C / 90°F, put Irish Soda Bread in the fridge within one hour. Keep Irish Soda Bread at 4°C / 40°F or colder and eat within two days.
  • If Irish Soda Bread contains cream, custard, cheese or meat filling, keep that filling refrigerated. A savoury filled version of Irish Soda Bread must reach 74°C / 165°F when reheated. Serve Irish Soda Bread straight from the fridge if it is a chilled cake.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for Irish Soda Bread one day ahead. For Irish Soda Bread, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Irish Soda Bread on the day of serving.

FAQ

What matters most when making Irish Soda Bread?

Bake soon after adding buttermilk because the soda reacts immediately.

What can I substitute in Irish Soda Bread?

In Irish Soda Bread, replace buttermilk with plain yogurt thinned with milk.

Can I prepare Irish Soda Bread ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for Irish Soda Bread one day ahead. For Irish Soda Bread, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Irish Soda Bread on the day of serving.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating

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