Irish soda bread is a long standing Irish staple that uses baking soda and buttermilk for leavening instead of yeast. A cross is cut in the middle to help it raise while baking. I make this bread often throughout the year, especially on days I’ve not allowed time for a regular yeast bread!

Ingredients

3 3/4 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon soda

1/2 cup butter cut into small pieces

1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Optional: 1 cup currants

 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a large baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

Mix all dry ingredients in laarge mixing bowl. Next cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add buttermilk and mix together until a slightly sticky dough forms. Transfer to to prepared baking sheet and shape into an 8 inch round.

Make a cross in the middle and bake 50-60 minutes until golden brown and the crust is firm.

Cool on baking sheet 10 minutes and then move to wire rack to finish cooling.