This Irish soda bread is a wonderful traditional Irish quick bread with currants, caraway seeds, and honey. Here is a simple make-ahead Irish soda bread mix that is wonderful for gift giving or to whip up an Irish soda bread in just a few moments.
Is Irish Soda Bread Irish?
Irish soda bread is tender, dense, often crumbly, unleavened bread. As such, the bread is quite filling. It is often mistakenly thought that soda bread came into existence during the infamous Irish potato famine of 1845 when the blight hit the potato crops. While it makes for a good story, it’s just a myth.
Soda bread recipes were previously published in The Gentlemen’s Magazine in 1817, as well as by Mary Randolph in The Virginia Housewife in 1824. Baking soda was first introduced in Ireland during the 1840s, which is how the rumor began. Thus the inexpensive Irish soda bread was born.
Traditional Irish soda bread consists of just four simple ingredients, flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. Sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda) is the leavening agent, rather than the more traditional bread leavening agent, yeast.
Irish Soda Bread Mix Recipe
You’ll Need:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- Preheat the oven to 425 F. degrees. Lightly grease and flour a cake pan.
- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, mixing well.
- Add the buttermilk forming a sticky dough. Transfer to a floured surface and lightly knead.
- Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough.
Spotted Dog Irish Soda Bread Mix
Spotted dog is another version of soda bread, but with the addition of fruit and caraway seeds to make it “spotted”. While not a traditional Irish recipe, it is the more widely prepared in the United States in celebration of St. Patricks day. In truth, when Irish soda bread was at its most popular, people couldn’t afford to add dried fruit or seasonings.
Spotted Dog Irish Soda Bread Mix
You’ll Need:
3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
1 c. dried currants or raisins
1/2 c. light-brown sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp caraway seeds (optional)
Measure all ingredients into a large ziploc bag, seal and shake well. This makes 1 package of mix.
To Prepare:
Irish Soda Bread Directions
1 package Irish Soda Bread Mix (as listed above)
1/2 c. butter softened
1 egg
1 c. buttermilk
First, cut the butter into the bread mix working it in with your fingers or a mixer until the mixture resembles the texture of cornmeal. In a small bowl beat egg and buttermilk together and pour into the mix. Stir just enough to moisten evenly, but don’t over mix or your bread will be tough. Serve drizzled in honey.
Shape into a high round ball and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Make a criss-cross slash across the top Bake at 350F for 45-55 minutes. Cool the bread completely before slicing.
