Food & Cooking Recipes Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Bread Recipes Easy Irish Soda Bread 3.3 (29) 7 Reviews Simple ingredients and a few easy steps are all it takes to make this tender, raisin-studded bread. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 22, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 50 mins Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Servings: 16 Jump to recipe Our recipe for easy Irish soda bread calls for basic ingredients and requires no special equipment. Rather than working in the butter with a pastry cutter or your fingers, you’ll use melted butter which easily combines with the dry ingredients to form a moist, slightly sticky dough. After just a few minutes of kneading, the raisin- and caraway-studded loaf will be ready for the oven. Unlike many other bread recipes, this one doesn't need a loaf pan or Dutch oven to bake; just form it into a round and bake it on a standard baking sheet. Slathered with salted butter and served with anything from jam to Irish stew, it’s just as delicious all year round as it is on St. Patrick’s Day. Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder: The Differences Between These Popular Leavening Agents Martha Stewart Tips for Making Easy Irish Soda Bread Spoon, don't scoop, flour: When measuring flour for this recipe—and other baking projects—spoon, don't scoop, the flour into your measuring cup. That will help keep the flour from packing too tightly, which can cause more to end up in your recipe than called for. Flour hands and work surface: This dough requires a few minutes of kneading time before it's ready to shape and bake. As it's a rather moist dough, you'll want to be sure to thoroughly flour your work surface and hands as needed to keep the dough from sticking to them. Don't forget the "X": Cutting an "X" into the bread helps steam escape as the loaf bakes. Don't be shy when making the cut—it should be about three-quarters of an inch deep. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading ¾ cup sugar ¾ cup raisins 2 tablespoons caraway seeds 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 ½ cups buttermilk 2 large eggs Directions Heat oven; prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a baking sheet. Whisk wet and dry ingredients separately; combine: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, raisins, caraway seeds, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, and 2 tablespoons butter. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients to form a dough. Knead dough; form into loaf: Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 4 minutes; add more flour as needed to prevent sticking. Form dough into a 9-inch round; place on prepared baking sheet. Brush with butter; score with knife: Brush loaf with remaining tablespoon butter. Using a sharp knife, score an X on top of loaf. Bake; let cool before serving: Bake until skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on wire rack before serving. Storage Once fully cooled, wrap Irish soda bread tightly in plastic and store it at room temperature for up to two days. How to Serve Irish Soda Bread As a snack: This tender, flavorful bread makes a delicious snack served on its own with salted butter and jam. With a hearty entree: It's also a perfect accompaniment to a full Irish breakfast or a hearty Irish stew—try one with the more traditional lamb or opt for our beef-and-stout version. For sandwiches: You can also slice it thin and use it for sandwiches or serve small squares for afternoon tea. More Irish-Inspired Recipes to Try: Irish-Style Brown Bread Irish Soda Scones Treacle Brown Bread Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Brown-Butter Shortbread Bangers and Mash Originally appeared: Everyday Food, March/April 2003 Rate It PRINT Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and freelance writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.