Irish Soda Bread

Submitted by Sheila Brennan

This is my grandmother’s Irish Soda Bread recipe. Whenever I pass a bakery and smell bread baking I remember my childhood visits to my grandmother’s house. We would go every Sunday for dinner and she always made Irish Soda Bread to have with a nice cup of tea. I would sit up on the kitchen counter and we would talk and visit while she baked. I thin the bread is delicious but I’m not certain if it’s the recipe or the wonderful memories baked inside!

Ingredients

4 cups of flour
1 stick of cold butter
1 cup of sugar
2 tbsp. of fresh baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. of baking soda
1/8 tsp. of salt
1 tbsp. of caraway seeds
1 cup of raisins or currents or mixture
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1/2 cup of beer
1 egg

Tip! The recipes for Irish Soda Bread are as numerous and varied as the Irish people. Some are made with a bread like consistency, some are not very sweet—my grandmother’s is more like a tea cake and makes a nice light dessert

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, add flour and cut in butter slices. Mix to consistency of cornmeal

2. Add sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, caraway seeds, and raisins

3. Whisk in egg and add milk and beer to dry mixture. For goodness sake, don’t waste the remaining beer - hold aside and enjoy while bread is baking

4. The mixture will be slightly moist, mix with a wooden spoon or hands

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

6. Place mixture into greased bundt pan and cook for about 50 minutes

7. Test with toothpick, don’t overcook

8. Serve warm with butter or cold anytime with family or good friends

Have you made this recipe? Share your tips, tricks, and stories in the comments below!