Posted by Caryn Bailey 8 Comments
{Sponsored}
Waking up to the smell of fresh bread is one of my favorite sensory experiences, initiated when I was a child and reinforced during my travels abroad. During a trip to Ireland, I stayed in a series of bed and breakfasts which introduced me to the local culture and way of life. Along with offering a more authentic experience, each stay included a traditional Irish breakfast complete with Irish Soda Bread or Irish Brown Bread. Both of these varieties quickly became a favorite of mine because of their hearty, complex flavors and textures.
Fresh, homemade bread is admittedly time-consuming, particularly if done correctly. I rarely purchase sliced, store-bought varieties because the flavor and texture just cannot compare to fresh bread. My solution was to invest in a bread machine, which makes it practically impossible to fail, particularly if I’m following a recipe.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I decided to make a one hour Irish Soda Bread recipe in my bread machine. Traditionally, this quick bread contained baking soda, yeast, flour, salt, and buttermilk with optional additions of butter, eggs, raisins and/or nuts. In addition to the traditional ingredients, I added caraway seeds and currants for complexity and depth and replaced a third of the flour with whole wheat flour. Serve this bread with plenty of pure Irish butter and you will have to exercise control to avoid eating it all in one sitting.
Ideally, this bread should be mixed, formed into a ball, criss-crossed across the top and baked. However, if you use the Quick Bread Cycle on your bread machine, the result will be comparable and you won’t likely notice a difference in texture or flavor. If your bread machine has a delay cycle, set it one hour before your wake-up timeand you’ll enjoy theheavenly scent of fresh, homemadebread as you rise.
Here is my One Hour Irish Soda Bread Recipe!
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2cupwater
- 1cup+ 2 T buttermilk
- 2eggslightly beaten
- 2Tbutter
- 2Tmolasses
- 1cupwhole wheat flour
- 2cupscake or bread flour
- 1/2tspbaking soda
- 1 1/2tspsalt
- 2tspof Fleischmann's RapidRise Highly Active Yeast
- 2tspcaraway seeds
- 1cupcurrants
- Serve with Irish butter and jam
Instructions
Place all ingredients in the bread machine, ensuring that the liquid ingredients are at the bottom and the dry ingredients are on the top
Set bread machine to Quick Bread cycle
Allow bread to set for 10 minutes before removing it from the bread machine
Serve warm with Irish butter and jam
In the span of one week, I’ve already made this Irish Soda Bread recipe twice. I can serve it with scrambled eggs and fruit for my kids for a complete meal that is hearty, healthy, and absolutely delicious. Using the bread machine practically guarantees results, and because the machine does the work for you, no baking skills are required.
While I think this bread is ideal just as it says, I always like to share some notes and tips:
1. Remember to pour the flour into your measuring cup so that it isn’t packed, which can alter the texture of the bread
2. You can substitute dark honey for the molasses, if desired
3. I like to create a small crater in my flour for the yeast so that it doesn’t interact with the liquid ingredients until the bread machine begins working
4. If you have difficulty finding currants, you could easily substitute raisins or sultanas
Looking for additional St. Patrick’s Day Recipes? Check out these inspired ideas from the other Walmart Moms!
Chocolate Mint Poke Cake
Low Carb Bangers and Mash
Pot O Gold Brownies
Fruit Skewers
Asparagus Leek Soup
Leprechaun Hat Pudding
Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.
Latest posts by Caryn Bailey (see all)
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
- Like Water for Chocolate at Segerstrom Center for the Arts - March 24, 2023
Related
FAQs
Use a sharp knife to score the top of the dough into an "X" shape about an inch deep. This is to help heat get into the dough as it bakes. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. To check if the bread is done, when you tap the bottom of the bread it should sound hollow.
What went wrong with my soda bread? ›
If you've ever tried Irish soda bread and not liked it, don't go running off yet! Chances are good that the bread you ate suffered from one of three common problems: improper amount of baking soda (a gross, salty-bitter taste), over cooking (a dry, chalky texture), or undercooking (a soggy, doughy center).
Is there a difference between soda bread and Irish soda bread? ›
Sweeter Soda Bread
On this side of the Atlantic, what we call "Irish soda bread" is more rich and sweet, usually studded with raisins and caraway seeds. These cakey, scone-like loaves often include eggs and butter for tenderness and more flavor.
Why is my Irish soda bread so dry? ›
It's important to remember no to overmix your ingredients. Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread, similar to a scone, but can easily become dry if overmixed. Quickly add the wet ingredients to a well you've made in the dry ingredients, and mix with your hands or a dough hook until it just comes together.
Why does Irish soda bread not need yeast? ›
The Irishmen learned to adapt to this climate by growing soft wheat that is lower in gluten. The type of flour from this wheat is not compatible with the yeast to make the dough rise; thus, they use baking soda instead to make the famed Irish Soda Bread.
Why is my Irish soda bread gummy? ›
And finally, don't immediately cut into the Fast Irish Soda bread when you pull it out of the oven. Although this bread is best served warm, cutting into it too quickly will turn the bread gummy.
What happens if you put too much baking soda in soda bread? ›
It's important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.
Should Irish soda bread dough be wet? ›
Note that the dough will be a little sticky, and quite shaggy (a little like a shortcake biscuit dough). You want to work it just enough so the flour is just moistened and the dough just barely comes together.
What happens if you put too much bread soda in bread? ›
Too much baking soda in a recipe can give your baked goods a metallic or soapy taste, so be careful with your amounts in conversions.
What do Irish people call soda bread? ›
In Ulster, the wholemeal variety is usually known as wheaten bread and is normally sweetened, while the term "soda bread" is restricted to the white savoury form. In the southern provinces of Ireland, the wholemeal variety is usually known as brown bread and is almost identical to the Ulster wheaten.
Tightly wrap your leftover bread and place it in an airtight container. There's no need to refrigerate. As for how long soda bread lasts: Irish soda bread tends to dry out faster than other breads. The bread will be good for 3-4 days or up to three months if frozen.
What is another name for Irish soda bread? ›
Irish soda bread has a couple of other names, too: When we attended a class at the famous Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland, they made this loaf and called it a Spotted Dog. It's also called white soda bread, American Irish soda bread, or fruit soda bread.
What flour is soda bread made from? ›
Containing just four ingredients — all-purpose wheat flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk — this Irish soda bread recipe is very much in line with what's eaten in Ireland. In addition to this version made with white flour, the Irish do make a whole wheat (aka wholemeal) variety as well.
Can you leave soda bread dough overnight? ›
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave out on the counter top overnight. In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl. Take out your dough and press into a thick circle on a breadboard (use white flour to prevent sticking, though I didn't need any).
Is Irish soda bread supposed to be doughy in the middle? ›
Why is my brown soda bread doughy in the middle? This is likely due to not baking the bread long enough, or at a hot enough temperature. Make sure to allow your oven to pre-heat fully before putting the bread in the oven. And, follow the directions exactly for baking temperatures and time.
Can you over knead soda bread? ›
Seriously, as with all breads that do not have yeast, you won't want to overwork your dough. If you feel like you have to knead the dough together, don't knead more than 5-6 times, max. Too much kneading will create a hard dense crumb on the bread.
How long can soda bread sit before baking? ›
(Some recipes call for yeast and kneading, but know this isn't required.) You don't have to wait hours or overnight for a rise, either. In fact, you don't even need to wait at all: Dough for Irish soda bread can go right into the oven after making.
Is Irish soda bread supposed to be crumbly? ›
If your Irish soda bread is too crumbly, it may be because you overmixed the dough. Another possibility is that your baking soda was expired and should be replaced. Make sure you are using the correct amount of baking soda in the recipe. Too much or too little can result in a crumbly loaf.
