Irish Soda Bread
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This whole grain Irish Soda Bread is the perfect healthy recipe to enjoy for St. Patrick’s Day. It makes a great breakfast or snack.
Irish soda bread is a classic St. Patrick’s Day snack. I’m an Irish girl, so of course I need an Irish soda bread recipe in my arsenal.
This delicious whole grain version is adapted from the King Arthur Flour website. Even though it’s made with whole wheat flour, it does have a nice, light texture out of the oven. My children can’t get enough of it, and it tastes amazing slathered with Kerrygold butter.
Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread Tips
If your family is still getting used to whole grain bread, you can substitute unbleached all-purpose flour for a cup of the whole wheat flour. I go light on the raisins, but you can include a full cup of raisins if you prefer a fruitier loaf of bread.
This bread tastes best the day it’s made, but you can store it for few days in an airtight container at room temperature.
And check out my gluten-free Irish soda bread for another version of this delicious St. Patrick’s day recipe.
Irish Soda Bread
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 tbs cold butter cut into small pieces
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk or whey
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup raisins (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the flour, baking soda, and salt in a large food processor (9 cup or larger capacity) with the dough blade. Mix briefly, and then add the cold butter and process until the mixture has a crumb-like texture. If you don't have a food processor that's big enough, you can place the dry ingredients in a large bowl and cut in the butter by hand with two forks or a pastry blade.
- In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg, and maple syrup. Add this to the food processor and process until a ball of dough forms.
- Place the dough in the large bowl and add the raisins. Mix the raisins into the dough with your hands. The dough should be sticky.
- Form the dough into a ball and press down slightly. Place it in a large, buttered cast iron skillet. Use a sharp knife to score the dough, placing an "x" across the top (about 1/2 inch deep).
- Bake the loaf for 40 to 45 minutes, until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Brush with melted butter while cooling.
Approximate Nutrition Info
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Irish Soda Bread Price Breakdown
This Irish soda bread costs a total of $2.83 to make, or $.28 per serving. Serve this delicious bread for breakfast or a snack to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.
Get into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with this healthy Shamrock Shake, too!
What do you like to eat for St. Patrick’s Day? Please let us know in the comments, and feel free to share a favorite recipe.
Love this recipe, especially because I can use the whey I froze after making homemade ricotta. Got to try it.
Thanks for posting this.
Made it – loving it! Substituted milk + vinegar for buttermilk, stretched my maple syrup by adding some honey, baked in a glass pie dish – all worked great. Thanks AM!
So glad you like it! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and your crew. 🙂
What if I dont have a cast iron skillet?
You could use a greased cookie sheet or other large baking pan in place of the cast iron pan. I hope you like it! 🙂