Irish Soda Bread without Buttermilk
This Irish Soda Bread Without Buttermilk uses simple ingredients and is a classic bread that is SO easy to make! No need to run to the store for buttermilk--you probably have all the ingredients in your fridge and pantry!
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup milk whole milk works best, but low fat is OK, too.
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice white wine vinegar is fine, too!
- 4 cups all-purpose flour + a little more for dusting
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 3 tbsp sugar See Note 1
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 5 tbsp COLD salted butter, cubed
- 1 cup raisins or currants, optional you can also use 2-3 tsps of caraway seeds
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (you can also use a large cast-iron skillet). In a small bowl or large glass measuring cup, combine milk, vinegar, and egg. Beat well for about 30 seconds and set aside.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add dry ingredients: 4 cups of flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and raisins/currants (if using). Whisk to combine.
- Add Butter: Add cubed, COLD butter. Work the butter in with your fingers or a fork until pea-sized crumbs form.
- Add Milk: To the flour mixture, add the milk/vinegar/egg mixture. [Note: Reserve about a tablespoon of the milk mixture to brush on top] Stir with a wooden spoon or fork until all of the dry ingredients are moistened. No need to overmix.
- Form Dough: Flour your hands. Then, transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough 5-10 times or for about 30 seconds until all of the flour is incorporated. Again, no need to overmix. It will be a fairly sticky dough. If it's too sticky, add a bit more flour. Form the dough until a round loaf. This soda bread is meant to be "rustic"... meaning, it doesn't have to be a perfectly-shaped loaf!
- Prepare to Bake: Place dough on your prepared baking sheet. Then, with a sharp knife, make a deep, 1/2 inch deep "X" on the top of the loaf. Brush the top with the reserved milk mixture.
- Bake: Bake soda bread for 40-50 minutes or until the internal temperature is 190°. Transfer to a wire rack and allow bread to cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting into slices. Serve with lots of Irish butter or alongside Irish Stew!
Notes
Note 1: If you are making this soda bread recipe to enjoy with coffee, add an additional tablespoon of sugar for more sweetness. If you are making it to go alongside Irish Stew or with a savory dish, keep the sugar at 3 tbsp.
Nutrition is only an estimate based on the Very Well Fit Nutrition Calculator
Nutrition
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 393kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 9.2gFat: 9.3gSaturated Fat: 5.4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 476mgPotassium: 304mgFiber: 2.4gSugar: 17.3gVitamin D: 7µgCalcium: 100mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!