Irish Soda Bread
With St. Patrick's Day just behind us, it only seems fitting to start with this easy and delicious recipe. Bonus: you can make extra buttermilk to use for pancakes later!
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 cup for kneading
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, plus 2 additional tablespoons, melted
- 3/4 cup buttermilk plus an additional 1/4 cup (*recipe included below!)
- 1 large egg, beaten
Directions
- Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the melted butter, buttermilk, and beaten egg. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour as needed if your dough is slightly sticky.
- Form the dough into a round loaf, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. In a small bowl, combine the 2 additional tablespoons melted butter and 1/4 cup buttermilk. Brush the top of the loaf with this mixture, and use a sharp knife to cut an "X" into the top of it.
- Bake for 30 minutes, and then check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, the loaf is done! If not, brush the loaf again with the butter/buttermilk mixture, and bake for an additional 5-15 minutes. The loaf should appear golden brown and crunchy on the outside and light and airy on the inside
- TIP: *To make your own buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to 1 cup of whole milk. Stir to mix, and let stand for at least 10 minutes before using.