Irish Soda Bread

Soda bread is a variety of quick bread traditionally made in a variety of cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as baking soda) is used as a leavening agent instead of the more common yeast. The ingredients of traditional soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk. The buttermilk in the dough contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. Other ingredients can be added such as raisins, egg or various nuts.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Category: Baking
• Cuisine: Irish
• Cooking Method: Baking

Ingredients

• 4 cup White Flour (Bread flour works best but All purpose works as well)
• 2 tbsp White Sugar
• 1 tbsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 6 tbsp Butter or Margarine (Cold)
• 2 cup Buttermilk

Instructions

1. In mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir well.
2. Cut in butter until crumbly.
3. Add buttermilk. Mix just to moisten.
4. Turn out on floured surface. Knead 8 - 10 times.
5. Put in greased 9x5x3” loaf pan. I like to use a Dutch Oven cast iron pot (no lid) for that typical shape.
6. Bake at 350F for 1 hour until browned and inserted toothpick comes out clean.