Authentic Irish Soda Bread (Directly From Ireland!)

My grandmother and I just love making this delicious Irish Soda bread recipe during the fall and winter months. It is a great and fulfilling snack that is quick and easy to make.

Maybe you need a quick and easy recipe for your St. Patrick's Day party? Or do you just love eating this crumbly bread with a cup of strong coffee or English tea?

Here is quick and easy authentic recipe for Irish Soda Bread directly from my grandmother's kitchen in County Mayo, Ireland. After a few taste tests, I tweaked the recipe a little bit to make this the best Irish Soda Bread I've ever tasted. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Step 1: Ingredients Needed

Here is what you need:

3 cups of flour
3/4 cup of sugar (plus a tiny bit extra to sprinkle ontop)
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. carraway seed
1 cup raisins
1 large egg
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
6 tbs, butter (3/4 the stick)

***PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES

Step 2: Cooking Tools Needed

For this recipe you will need:

2 larger mixing bowels
1 microwave safe bowl/container
Loaf pan
Measuring cups and spoons
Wooden spoon
Pastry brush

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In one mixing bowl mix dry ingredients:

3 cups of flour
3/4 cup of sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. carraway seeds

Sift the dry ingredients together gently with a wooden spoon so they are combined.

Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients

In another mixing bowl stir the wet ingredients together really well with a wooden spoon so that the mixture is smooth without any lumps.

1 1/4 cup buttermilk
6 tbs. butter (3/4 the stick)
1 large egg

**Don't add raisins yet! (Raisins are added after the wet and dry ingredients are combined).

***I would take the butter out and give it time to thaw so it is soft easy to mix with the other ingredients. You could also melt the butter for around 10 seconds in the microwave so it is easier to mix in.

Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Slowly add the well-sifted dry ingredients to the well-blended wet ingredients and mix the two together. The dough should stick together and form a large ball. Keep stirring the dough until all the flour is completely mixed in.

**Make sure you only mix the dough together by hand. Do not use an electric mixer because it ruins the consistency of the dough.

Step 6: Add Raisins

Finally, after the dough has formed a ball and feels gooey and gluelike, add 1 cup of golden raisins and mix together well. You could always add more or less raisins depending on whether or not you like them in your bread.

Step 7: Spray Loaf Pan With PAM

Although this is simple, I wanted to include a step making sure the loaf pan gets thoroughly coated with PAM. This bread tends to stick to ungreased pans, and it will be really difficult to remove the bread from the loaf pan if it isn't greased.

Plus, the bread already has a crumbly and dry texture to it, so any pan that isn't sprayed will only make the bread break and crumble more.

Step 8: Put Dough in Pan

Scoop out the dough mixture with your hands and place it in the loaf pan.

Step 9: Melt Remaining Butter in Microwave

Take the extra 2 tbs (1/4 stick) of butter and put it in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the butter for around 12-15 seconds.

Step 10: Spread Melted Butter

Take the pastry brush and spread the melted butter onto of the dough. Coat the entire surface with butter. Be generous with the butter because it gives the bread a nice crusty and crunchy top.

Step 11: Sprinkle Sugar

After the butter is coated on, take a small bit of sugar and spread it out evenly on top of the dough.

Step 12: Bake Dough

Bake the dough for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees. Use a fork or a knife to test and make sure the bread is cooked through thoroughly.

Step 13: Let Bread Cool in Pan

Make sure the bread is cooked through and let cool for about 20-25 minutes in the pan. You can use a knife or a spatula to get the bread out of the pan. Don't be alarmed if the bread starts to crumble a little bit because that is normal. The bread is a dry and crumbly type that tends to break easily.

Step 14: Slice and Enjoy

The bread tends to crumble and break a bit as it does in this photo, but that is normal. Personally, I enjoy eating Irish Soda Bread for breakfast with butter and coffee. The bread also tastes really yummy with strawberry or blackberry jam.