Traditional Irish soda bread in Ireland is a very different from the Irish-American version we enjoy here. In Ireland, this basic bread is made from flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk with its origins in poor farming communities from the mid-1800s. A fistful of raisins or currants, a little bit of sugar and an egg would have been luxury add-ins to the basic bread. Butter isn’t in the bread, but slathered on it when it is served.

Every year around St. Patrick’s Day, I used to make an authentic Irish soda bread recipe. It was perfect with a meal of stew, which I love, but the kids weren’t really interested in eating the stew or the bread. I gave up making soda bread for a number of years. Then, I met Steven.

Steven was a student in one of the 4th grade classrooms I worked in. He was extremely knowledgeable about military battles. He was also very proud to be of Irish descent. When St.Patrick’s Day rolled around, Steven’s mother sent in some Irish soda bread for the class. It was absolutely delicious. It was an Irish-American version with sugar, butter, eggs, and raisins in it and she willingly shared her family’s recipe with me. This bread is more of a breakfast or tea bread, not a side item for stew. It’s a perfect treat to celebrate our family’s Irish heritage around St. Paddy’s Day!

Sullivan’s Irish Soda Bread

Sullivan’s Irish Soda Bread    Makes 2 loaves of bread

Ingredients:

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups raisins

Directions:

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, & salt together in the large bowl of a stand mixer.

Combine the dry ingredients first.

Add in the lightly beaten egg then stir in the buttermilk and melted butter. Mix in the raisins.

Add the wet ingredients into the dry ones.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead it minimally, just until it is smooth.

Turn the dough out onto a floured board.

Divide the dough into 2 balls, put them on a greased baking sheet and slightly flatten the balls. Slash an “X” into the top of each loaf.

Make an “X” in the top of each loaf.

Bake the bread in a 350º oven for 45-55 minutes, until the loaves are golden brown.

Bake until the loaves are golden brown.

Cool the bread on the baking sheet for 10 minutes then transfer the loaves to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve with a pat of butter or jam, if desired.

A great start to the day!

This is an Irish-American treat!  ~Linda

Sullivan’s Irish Soda Bread    Makes 2 loaves of bread

Ingredients:

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups raisins

Directions:

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, & salt together in the large bowl of a stand mixer. Add in the lightly beaten egg then stir in the buttermilk and melted butter.  Mix in the raisins.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead it minimally, just until it is smooth. Divide the dough into 2 balls, put them on a greased baking sheet and slightly flatten the balls. Slash an “X” into the top of each loaf.

Bake the bread in a 350º oven for 45-55 minutes, until the loaves are golden brown. Cool the bread on the baking sheet for 10 minutes then transfer the loaves to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve with a pat of butter or jam, if desired.