Authentic 4-Ingredient Irish Bread (Printable)
Rustic Irish soda bread with a golden crust and tender crumb, ready in under an hour.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly blended.
03 - Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the buttermilk and stir gently with a wooden spoon just until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
04 - Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead briefly just until it holds together, avoiding overworking. Shape into a round, slightly flattened loaf approximately 2 inches thick.
05 - Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to cut a deep cross shape across the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
06 - Transfer the bread to a wire rack and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing to ensure proper texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Four basic ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen right now
- Ready from start to finish in less time than it takes to watch an episode of your favorite show
- That incredible hollow sound when you tap the bottom—it never gets old
02 -
- Overworking the dough makes it tough—handle it gently and briefly
- The deep X cut isnt just tradition, it allows heat to penetrate the center of the loaf
- That hollow tap sound is your foolproof indicator that its done baking
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients help everything come together smoothly
- The X should be quite deep—about a quarter of the way through the dough
- If the crust browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes