Authentic 4-Ingredient Irish Soda (Print View)

Rustic Irish soda bread with golden crust and tender crumb, made from four simple ingredients.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

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

→ Wet Ingredient

04 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly flour the surface.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the buttermilk and stir gently with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead just until it comes together, avoiding overworking. Shape into a round, slightly flattened loaf about 2 inches thick.
05 - Using a sharp knife, cut a deep X across the top of the loaf to allow for even expansion during baking.
06 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the bread develops a golden crust and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
07 - Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing to ensure proper texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The satisfaction of pulling a gorgeous golden loaf from your oven in under an hour
  • It needs only four ingredients you probably already have in your pantry
  • The taste is infinitely better than anything you will find at the store
02 -
  • Overworking the dough will make your bread tough, so handle it gently and briefly
  • The X cut serves a practical purpose, helping the heat penetrate the center of the loaf
  • The hollow sound when you tap the bottom is your signal that it is done baking
03 -
  • If you do not have buttermilk, mix regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar and let it sit for five minutes
  • Make sure your baking soda is fresh, as expired soda will not give you the proper rise

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