Authentic Irish soda bread contains no raisins, butter or eggs. This American version is made with buttermilk, butter, eggs, raisins and sugar. It’s baked in a heavy iron skillet so that the top and bottom crusts become crunchy and browned while the center stays tender and pale, studded with treacly bits of raisins.
Ingredients
- Butter for greasing pan plus 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 1 ½ cups raisins or currants
- 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
- Good aged Cheddar cheese, for serving
- Tart apples, cut into slices, for serving
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)
410 calories; 8 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 77 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 35 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 63 milligrams cholesterol; 854 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
1 10-inch loaf
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet and line with parchment or waxed paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Do not overmix. Stir in the raisins or currants and caraway seeds.
- Pour batter into skillet. Brush top with remaining butter. Bake until golden and firm to touch, about 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving with Cheddar and apples.
1 hour 30 minutes
Dining and Cooking