Cozy Irish Soda Bread with Caraway Seeds
A quick and easy Irish soda bread recipe featuring toasted caraway seeds for a warm, aromatic twist. Perfect for cozy mornings and simple to make without yeast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (480g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons caraway seeds, lightly toasted
- 1 3/4 cups (420ml) buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Optional: 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a cast iron skillet.
- Toast the caraway seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes until fragrant. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and toasted caraway seeds.
- Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits.
- Pour in the buttermilk and gently mix with a wooden spoon or hands until the dough just comes together. Add a splash more buttermilk if too dry.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 2-3 times to bring it together. Shape into a round loaf about 7 inches (18cm) in diameter.
- Place the loaf on the baking sheet or skillet and cut a deep cross (about 1/2 inch / 1.3cm deep) on top.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. For extra crisp crust, bake directly on the oven rack with the baking sheet underneath.
- Transfer the bread to a cooling rack and let cool completely for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Toast caraway seeds lightly to mellow their flavor and enhance aroma. Avoid overmixing the dough to keep the bread tender. Let the bread cool completely before slicing to prevent gummy texture. Tent with foil if browning too fast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of l
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: Irish soda bread, caraway seeds, quick bread, no yeast bread, homemade bread, easy bread recipe, traditional Irish bread