Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe: The Perfect St. Patrick's Day Hostess Gift
The Perfect St. Patric’s Day Hostess Gift
Looking for a foolproof way to impress at this year's St. Patrick's Day celebrations? This Irish Soda Bread recipe is your answer – and trust me, it's so simple that I made it with my 4-year-old assistant baker! Whether you're attending a festive gathering or hosting your own St. Patrick's Day party, homemade bread makes for a thoughtful hostess gift that stands out among the typical wine bottles and flower arrangements.
What makes this Irish Soda Bread special isn't just its delicious taste and perfectly crumbly texture – it's how beautifully it presents when wrapped with care and topped with our St. Patrick's Day gift tags. The combination of homemade goodness with personalized presentation transforms a simple baked good into a memorable gift that shows you went the extra mile.
Our St. Patrick’s Day gift tags are the perfect touch for this simple hostess gift.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. With just a handful of basic ingredients and no need for yeast or proofing time, you can have a fresh-baked loaf ready in under an hour. The traditional cross cut into the top gives it that authentic Irish look, while the slight sweetness from the raisins balances perfectly with the rich buttermilk base.
So put on some Irish music, gather your ingredients, and prepare to create a St. Patrick's Day gift that will have everyone asking for your secret recipe. The best part? You can proudly say you made it yourself – and no one needs to know just how easy it actually was!
INGREDIENTS FOR THE IRISH SODA BREAD:
4 cups (510 g) all-purpose flour, see notes below for making it whole grain
2 teaspoons (12 g) kosher salt
1 tablespoon (13 g) sugar
1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda
1 cup dried currants, optional
1 egg
1¾ cups (410 g) buttermilk, see notes above
2 tablespoons melted butter
FOR FINISHING:
Room temperature butter
Flour
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, and currants (if using).
In a medium bowl, beat the egg and buttermilk. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until combined. Mixture will be sticky. Grease a 9- or 10-inch cast iron skillet (or other similarly sized vessel) with softened butter. Set aside.
Lightly flour your hands and sprinkle a little flour over the sticky dough ball. Use your hands to scrape the dough from the sides of the bowl and to quickly shape the mass into a ball, kneading lightly if necessary. Transfer to prepared skillet. Sprinkle with a teensy bit more flour. Use a sharp knife to make an X across the top of the dough ball. Place in oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from oven, transfer to cooling rack, and let cool for 15 minutes before slicing.
To store Irish soda bread, tuck it into an airtight bag (such as a ziplock) or an airtight vessel. You can store it at room temperature for about 3-4 days or freeze it for up to 2-3 months.
Recipe via alexandracooks.com
