Irish Soda Bread Caraway (Printable)
Quick Irish soda bread with aromatic caraway, crisp crust, and tender crumb. Ideal alongside soups or butter.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp baking soda
03 - 1 tsp salt
04 - 2 tbsp caraway seeds
05 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 1¾ cups buttermilk
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.
02 - In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and caraway seeds.
03 - Create well in center of dry ingredients. Pour buttermilk and melted butter into well. Stir with wooden spoon until shaggy dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Gently knead just until combined, about 1 minute. Shape into round loaf 7-8 inches across and place on prepared baking sheet.
05 - Cut deep X across top of loaf with sharp knife. Bake 35-40 minutes until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
06 - Remove from oven and brush top with additional melted butter if desired. Cool on wire rack at least 30 minutes before slicing.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The chemical reaction between baking soda and buttermilk creates the most incredible rise without any waiting around
- That characteristic caraway flavor turns something ordinary into bread that feels like it came from a proper Irish bakery
- You probably have everything in your kitchen right now, making it perfect for impulsive baking moods
02 -
- Once you add liquid to the baking soda, the chemical reaction starts immediately, so get that bread into the oven without delay
- The X cut is not just traditional—it allows the heat to penetrate the center and helps the bread bake evenly throughout
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients help everything come together more smoothly, but cold buttermilk works just fine in a pinch
- The hollow sound when tapping the bottom is your best indicator that the bread is fully cooked through