Description
Simple yet authentic Alton Brown irish soda bread brings traditional Irish baking techniques to home kitchens with minimal ingredients. Hearty bread pairs perfectly with soups, stews, and you’ll savor its rustic charm and delightful texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (946 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) cold low-fat buttermilk or kefir
- 1 cup (237 ml) raisins or dried cranberries
- 6 tbsps cold unsalted butter
- 1 large egg, cold
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup (59 ml) all-purpose flour (for dusting)
- ½ tbsp unsalted butter (to grease pan)
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 375°F. Thoroughly grease a cast-iron skillet with butter, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: In a large bowl, blend flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Incorporate cold butter using fingertips until mixture resembles uneven crumbs, creating a textured base.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk buttermilk and egg in a separate container. Fold raisins into the flour mixture, creating a central well. Pour liquid mixture into the center, stirring minimally until dough just begins to cohere.
- Dough Shaping: Transfer slightly moistened dough onto a floured surface. Gently form a rustic round loaf with floured hands, avoiding excessive manipulation to maintain tenderness.
- Skillet Arrangement: Nestle the shaped dough into the buttered skillet. Carve a deep “X” across the loaf’s surface using a sharp knife to facilitate expansion during baking.
- Baking Process: Position skillet in the oven’s center. Bake for 50-55 minutes until the exterior turns golden-brown and produces a hollow sound when tapped. Allow bread to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- Butter Selection: Use high-quality cold unsalted butter for optimal texture and rich flavor in the bread.
- Handling Dough: Treat the dough gently and minimally to prevent tough, dense bread; light touches create tender results.
- Moisture Control: Watch flour dusting carefully – too much can dry out the bread, while too little causes sticking.
- Raisin Distribution: Break up raisin clusters before adding to ensure even spread throughout the bread’s interior.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg