Traditional Leitrim Irish Soda Bread
An authentic, heirloom Irish soda bread recipe dating back to 1870s Leitrim, featuring buttermilk, raisins, and caraway seeds.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Cast iron skillet or baking pan
- Cake tester or wooden skewer
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Heaping 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup of raisins
- 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
- 1 large egg
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons BUTTER melted
- 1 tablespoon milk for glaze
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking pan or cast iron skillet.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the first 7 ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, raisins, and caraway seeds.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: the egg, buttermilk, and melted butter.
- Quickly and gently stir the wet and dry ingredients together.
- Transfer the dough into the lightly greased pan.
- Drizzle the top with 1 tablespoon of milk and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of coarse sugar.
- Bake in the preheated 375°F oven for 45 minutes.
- Test with a cake tester in the center; when it comes out clean, remove the bread from the oven. Notes:
- Do not overmix the dough, or the bread will be tough.
Notes
Do not overmix the dough, or the bread will be tough. Serve warm with plenty of butter and a cup of hot tea.
