Irish Raisin Soda Bread Recipe

Slices of Irish raisin soda bread arranged on a parchment-lined board.

4.50 from 16 votes

Sometimes you just need Irish Raisin Soda Bread that doesn’t require patience—no rise time, just a cozy loaf filled with raisins and caraway to make everything better.

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Total Time1 15

Course: Breads

Cuisine: European

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: Servings

Calories: 497kcal

Author: Linda

Ingredients

4 c. bread flour or use all-purpose
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. whole caraway seeds
4 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter
2 c. small dried fruit pieces such as raisins
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg yolk
1 Tbsp. heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and caraway seeds.
Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the cold butter into the dry mixture until it resembles a coarse meal. Stir in the dried fruit.
In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, whole egg, and baking soda.
Pour the liquid into the flour mixture, then stir with a fork until the mixture holds together.
Using your hands, press the dough into a round, dome-shaped loaf and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and cream. Brush this mixture over the loaf. Use a sharp knife to make a large "X" about 1/2 inch deep on top.
Bake, rotating halfway through, for 60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Notes

To store Irish Raisin Soda Bread, ensure that the bread is completely cooled before storing. Once cooled, you can wrap the entire loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

After wrapping, place the wrapped bread in a plastic bag or an airtight storage container. Properly stored, the bread will stay fresh for 3-4 days.

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