Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This is the best Irish Soda Bread recipe you’ll ever find. It’s delicious, moist and simple, making it a recipe staple for St. Patrick’s Day every single year.

I posted the recipe for this easy Irish soda bread with raisins many (many, many) years ago and I thought it was time for a revamp with the beautiful photos that this recipe deserves. The first time I had this Irish soda bread was at my friend Kristen’s bridal shower. It was one of the best bridal shower favors I’ve ever received: a mini loaf of Irish soda bread, handmade by her mother from her own recipe.

I had never been a fan of Irish soda bread in the past. It was often too dry and lacking in flavor. But, once I tried Kathy’s Irish soda bread, I never looked back. A new favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipe was added to my forever collection.

This has become an annual staple in our house. I’ve made it every year for the last 10+ years and I’m so thankful to Kristen for sharing the recipe with us. I promise, this is the only Irish Soda Bread recipe you’ll ever need!

Yield: 1 Loaf

Author: Rachel Humiston

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Kathy's Irish Soda Bread

This bread is best enjoyed same day, but it will last for up to a week if you wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temp. You may also wrap and freeze for later!

Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 30 M

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 4 C all purpose flour
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 C butter, at room temperature
• 1 C raisins
• 1 1/3 C buttermilk + more if needed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large bowl
3. Using a pastry cutter, cut butter into the mixture until the butter is very fine - or mix with your hands so there are no large lumps of butter
4. Add buttermilk and raisins and mix into soft dough. If needed, add a splash more of buttermilk at a time until it comes together.
5. Kneed by hand a few times
6. Generously grease pan and smooth bread evenly in pan
7. Cut an "X" across the top of the dough
8. Bake at least 1 hour until bread is browned slightly on the edges and cooked through
9. Let cool slightly and then move to a wire rack to cool completely
10. Slice and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this totally delicious and totally easy Irish soda bread! Let me know if you decide to give it a try and drop a comment with your thoughts!

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