Best 6 Marthas Irish Soda Bread Recipes

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"Martha's Irish Soda Bread" is a classic recipe that has been passed down through generations. This traditional Irish bread is characterized by its dense and crumbly texture, its slightly tangy flavor, and its iconic cross-shaped top. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this guide will provide you with the essential steps and tips to create the perfect "Martha's Irish Soda Bread" that will impress your family and friends.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

MARTHA'S IRISH SODA BREAD



Martha's Irish Soda Bread image

Martha's traditional quick Irish Soda Bread is studded with flavorful raisins and caraway seeds, and fortified with wheat bran.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Breakfast & Brunch Recipes     Bread Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/3 cups whole milk
1/3 cup apple-cider vinegar
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup unprocessed wheat bran
1/4 cup caraway seeds
1 cup raisins (5 ounces)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix milk and vinegar; let stand until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  • Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in bran, seeds, and raisins.
  • Add milk mixture; stir until dough just holds together but is still sticky. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Pat dough into a round loaf, about 7 inches in diameter. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Lightly dust top of loaf with flour. Using a sharp knife, score an X in top. Bake, rotating halfway through, until loaf is golden brown and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 70 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

EASY IRISH SODA BREAD



Easy Irish Soda Bread image

When this classic Irish Soda Bread is easy to make, you'll bake it all year round! The bread will keep, wrapped in plastic, for up to two weeks at room temperature.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Breakfast & Brunch Recipes     Bread Recipes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup raisins
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a baking sheet. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, raisins, caraway seeds, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, and 2 tablespoons butter. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients to form a dough.
  • Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 4 minutes; add more flour as needed to prevent sticking. Form dough into a 9-inch round; place on prepared baking sheet. Brush loaf with remaining tablespoon butter. Using a sharp knife, score an X on top of loaf.
  • Bake until skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on wire rack before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 217 g, Fat 3 g, Protein 5 g

IRISH SODA BREAD WITH CHEDDAR AND CHIVES



Irish Soda Bread with Cheddar and Chives image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Time 1h10m

Yield 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup freshly grated sharp Cheddar
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper to a large bowl. Whisk to break up any lumps of flour. Add the Cheddar and chives. Stir to evenly combine the ingredients. Set aside.
  • Add the buttermilk and egg to a 2-cup measuring cup. Use a fork to scramble the egg into the buttermilk.
  • Add the buttermilk mixture to the bowl with the flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to mix the ingredients until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Lightly flour your hands and knead the dough until it comes together, about 1 minute. Flip the dough so that it is seam-side down and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet. Use a serrated knife to cut a 1/2-inch-thick X on the top of the dough.
  • Bake until the bread is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Let cool slightly on a wire rack before slicing.

RICH IRISH SODA BREAD



Rich Irish Soda Bread image

By adding an egg, sugar, caraway seeds, and butter to a traditional Irish soda bread recipe, you create a loaf that's moist with more flavor, perfect for a Sunday breakfast or brunch. Wrapped well with plastic wrap, it can be stored at room temperature until the last crumb is eaten. Like all Irish soda breads, this freezes well.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Breakfast & Brunch Recipes     Bread Recipes

Yield 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
2 cups golden or dark raisins
1 1/2 scant cups buttermilk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and caraway seeds until well combined.
  • Using a pastry cutter or two knives in scissor fashion, cut in butter until the mixture feels like coarse meal. Stir in raisins until evenly distributed.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, and baking soda until well combined. Pour buttermilk mixture into the flour-and-butter mixture all at once, and stir with a fork until all the liquid is absorbed and the mixture begins to hold together. It should resemble a rough biscuit dough. Using your hands, press the dough into a round, dome-shaped loaf about 8 inches in diameter. Lift the loaf from the bowl, and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet.
  • In a small bowl, mix the egg yolk and cream together. With a pastry brush, brush the egg wash over the loaf. With a sharp knife or razor, incise a cross, about 1/2 inch deep, into the top of the loaf. Transfer to the oven. Bake, rotating halfway through, until it is deep golden brown and a wooden skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center, about 70 minutes. Remove from oven, and transfer bread from the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool.

GRANDPA MCANDREW'S IRISH SODA BREAD



Grandpa McAndrew's Irish Soda Bread image

My mom bugged grandpa for this recipe but he told her he didn't have one. So, when he made the bread one day she captured each ingredient in a bowl and measured it and put it in the bowl he planned to mix it in!

Provided by NANCERINI

Categories     Bread     Quick Bread Recipes     Irish Soda Bread Recipes

Time 55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons white sugar
½ cup raisins
1 egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons margarine, melted

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a cast iron skillet.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and sugar. Toss the raisins with the flour mixture until coated. Make a well in the center and add the egg, buttermilk, and melted margarine. Stir until all of the dry ingredients are absorbed. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a few quick turns just to even out the dough. Handle the dough as little as possible. Pat into a flat circle, and place into the prepared pan.
  • Bake the bread for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 254.7 calories, Carbohydrate 47.6 g, Cholesterol 24.5 mg, Fat 4 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 6.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 152.5 mg, Sugar 10.2 g

MCNAMARA'S IRISH SODA BREAD



McNamara's Irish Soda Bread image

A recipe handed down by my grandmother Anna Marie McNamara (nee Player). This is a great recipe for a light tea dessert bread. Delicious with light butter hot out of the oven. You can use any type of milk. I usually make this bread when my milk is about to go sour. I like to use raw crystallized sugar in place of the white granulated sugar. My father likes to use buttermilk.

Provided by Cmcnamara623

Categories     Irish Soda Bread

Time 1h10m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
9 tablespoons white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 ½ tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup milk
2 eggs
½ cup raisins
1 tablespoon white sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Grease an 8 1/2x4 1/2-inch loaf pan.
  • Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, 9 tablespoons sugar, and salt in the mixing bowl of a large stand mixer on low speed until combined.
  • Mix in butter until thoroughly combined.
  • Beat in milk, then eggs, then raisins, incorporating each ingredient well before adding the next.
  • Transfer dough to the prepared loaf pan and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until bread has risen and the top is golden brown, about 45 minutes. A toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center should come out clean.
  • Cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Best served warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 200 calories, Carbohydrate 35.7 g, Cholesterol 40.7 mg, Fat 4.7 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 4.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 263 mg, Sugar 14.6 g

Tips:

  • Use buttermilk: Buttermilk gives Irish soda bread its signature tangy flavor. If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
  • Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing the dough will make the bread tough. Mix the dough just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Let the dough rest: Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help the bread develop a better flavor and texture.
  • Bake the bread in a hot oven: Bake the bread in a preheated 375°F oven. This will help the bread rise and develop a golden brown crust.
  • Serve the bread warm: Irish soda bread is best served warm, slathered with butter and jam.

Conclusion:

Irish soda bread is a delicious and easy-to-make bread that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to use up leftover buttermilk, and it can be made with a variety of different flours. Whether you are a beginner baker or a seasoned pro, you will love this recipe for Irish soda bread. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy bread recipe, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!

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