Easy Irresistible Irish Soda Bread Recipe with Homemade Honey Butter
A quick and easy Irish soda bread with a golden crust and tender crumb, served with a velvety homemade honey butter that adds a perfect sweet contrast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (120g) (optional but recommended)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk (420ml) (or milk with 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar as substitute)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (60g), softened (for honey butter)
- 3 tablespoons honey (60ml) (for honey butter)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt, breaking up any clumps.
- Make a well in the flour mixture and gradually pour in the buttermilk, stirring gently with a wooden spoon until a soft, sticky dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently just 5 to 6 presses and folds; avoid over-kneading.
- Shape the dough into a round loaf about 7 inches (18 cm) wide and place it on a baking sheet or in a cast-iron skillet.
- Score a deep cross on top of the dough with a sharp knife.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped; tent with foil if browning too quickly.
- Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack; let cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing.
- While the bread cools, mix softened unsalted butter with honey until smooth and creamy to make the honey butter.
- Serve slices warm with a generous spread of honey butter.
Notes
Do not overmix or over-knead the dough to avoid dense bread. Use fresh baking soda for best rise. Score the dough deeply to help even cooking. Let bread cool before slicing to prevent crumbling. Make honey butter while bread bakes for convenience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 33
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: Irish soda bread, soda bread recipe, homemade bread, quick bread, honey butter, easy bread recipe, no yeast bread