Traditional Irish Fruit Soda Bread Recipe
This Traditional Irish Fruit Soda Bread is an authentic and popular Irish recipe. It has a lovely crunchy and chewy crust and a soft crumb studded with dried fruit. It is usually enjoyed simply with butter and occasionally some jam depending on your preferences. This bread is fabulously simple and quick to make. Soda bread relies on the reaction between baking soda and buttermilk to help the bread rise so there is no yeast or waiting required. I used sultanas in this recipe but currants are also a very popular addition.
So how do I make this Traditional Irish Fruit Soda Bread from scratch?
This no yeast bread comes together very easily with just a few simple steps.
Begin by adding the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda to a large mixing bowl. Mix together briskly. Add the sultanas and mix again. Pour the buttermilk into the middle of the flour and using a wooden spoon, mix everything until just combined. As soon as all the flour has been incorporated, stop mixing the dough. Sprinkle flour over a clean work surface and transfer the dough. Dust the top of the dough with more flour and carefully shape into a round shape. Transfer the dough to a lined, flat baking tray.
Using a sharp knife, slice a cross into the middle of the dough. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until cooked. To check the bread is cooked, you can gently press the bread in the middle. If it springs back, it is cooked. You can also check the bottom of the bread, if it has turned golden brown and looks completely dry, it is cooked. Allow to bread to cool before slicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. To make the milk more acidic, you can add 1 tsp of lemon juice to the milk and leave to stand for 20 minutes before using.
Absolutely, you can substitute the buttermilk for any kind of milk. Follow the instructions above for using regular milk,
This fruit soda bread is delicious with butter and jam either plain or toasted.
Yes of course. However, be careful toasting fruit soda bread as the sultanas can burn easily so keep an eye on it when toasting.
Yes, plain white soda bread is very popular and is very delicious. To make it more savoury, you can add another pinch of salt.
For more Bread Recipes, you can check out my Bread Category.
Traditional Irish Fruit Soda Bread
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 Wooden spoon
- 1 large flat tray
- 1 Small sharp knife
Ingredients
- 400 grams self raising flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- large pinch salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 80 grams sultanas or currants
- 350 grams buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°c (360°f) or 170°c (340°f) if fan assisted.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. Mix together briefly.
- Add the sultanas or currants and mix all together.
- Add the buttermilk to the bowl and mix together until a dough forms but be careful not to overmix. Once all the flour has been mixed into the dough, you can stop.
- Add a small handful of flour to a clean, flat work space and transfer the dough to it. Sprinkle the dough with more flour.
- Using your hands, form the dough into a circle or half a ball.
- Transfer to a baking paper lined flat tray and dust with a little more flour.
- Using a sharp knife, cut a cross into the top of the dough.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes until the bread has risen well and is a nice golden brown all over. To check the bread is cooked, you can gently press the bread in the middle. If it springs back, it is cooked. You can also check the bottom of the bread, if it has turned golden brown and looks completely dry, it is cooked.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly at room temperature for 3 days.
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