Irish White Soda Bread

So, so easy to make, this authentic Irish Soda Bread is delicious slightly warm or at room temperature to accompany any meal.

Irish White Soda Bread

4 cups flour, plus more for dusting

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

6 tablespoons cold butter, (3/4 of a stick of butter) plus 1/2 tablespoon to grease pan

1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk or sour cream thinned with milk

1 large egg, cold

-Preheat oven at 375˚F. Generously grease a baking sheet with 1/2 tablespoon butter.

-In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Cut butter into small pieces and use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until incorporated well into the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center.

-In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg then add this mixture into the flour mixture. Use a wooden spoon and mix just until lightly moistened and dough barely starts to come together.

-Pour dough out onto a floured surface then use floured hands to shape the dough just until it forms into a roundish, shaggy ball. It should be a bit difficult to handle and stick to your fingers, but if you are having a lot of trouble shaping it into a rough ball, work in up to 1/4 cup more flour. Do not over-mix or bread will be tough. Once you have created a basic, freestanding ball, leave it alone.

-Transfer the dough ball to the buttered sheet, then use a knife to score the top with a large and deep “X”. Bake in the center of your preheated oven at 375 for 50-55minutes, until just barely golden and the bottom is browed. Transfer bread to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy within 2 days of making it and refrigerate leftovers up to a week. Makes 1 loaf, about 12 servings

Mix dough ingredients until just combined. Pour onto counter and with floured hands, shape into a loose, lumpy or shaggy ball.

Place ball onto buttered baking sheet, then cut a deep X into it.

Bake until just golden but brown on the bottom.

Let bread cool at least 15 minutes, so that it is easier to slice and keeps its shape. Then cut with a serrated knife, either into wedges or slices.

Makes a loaf of authentic Irish Soda Bread, and serves about 12.

With just a touch of sweetness and a slight tang from the buttermilk, this bread gives you a taste of the “Luck of the Irish”!

PERSNICKETY NOTES:

**Serve Irish Soda Bread as a side dish with any menu. Or it is great with a bowl of soup (try an Irish Fish Soup, or Guinness Cheese Soup), with a salad, or on a cheeseboard with Irish Butter and sliced cheeses.

**Soda Bread makes great toast but can be a bit crumbly in the toaster so you may want to try broiling it until the edges are crispy. Try spreading on butter with jam or honey.