Soda Bread Irish Butter (Printer-friendly)

Rustic soda bread delivers tender crumb and golden crust complemented by creamy Irish butter.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1¾ cups buttermilk, well-shaken

→ To Serve

05 - Irish butter, for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
03 - Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. Mix gently with a wooden spoon or your hand until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overwork.
04 - Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead briefly, just until it comes together. Shape the dough into a round loaf about 2 inches thick. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - With a sharp knife, cut a deep cross into the top of the loaf about ½ inch deep.
06 - Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the loaf is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
07 - Cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature with generous slabs of Irish butter.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under fifteen minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • The crust turns irresistibly golden while the inside stays tender and perfect for slathering with butter
02 -
  • Overworking the dough will make your bread tough, so stop mixing as soon as it comes together
  • The hollow sound when tapping the bottom is your foolproof sign that it is done baking
03 -
  • Use room temperature buttermilk for the best rise and texture
  • Let the bread cool for at least thirty minutes before slicing to prevent a gummy crumb

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