Irish eyes will be smiling when you serve Irish Soda Bread this St. Patrick’s Day. Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread that does not require yeast. Instead, the leavening agent is baking soda (or bread soda in Ireland) that when combined with buttermilk causes a chemical reaction and the dough to rise.
Paula Adam, baker and owner of the home-based Mahalo Bake Shop in Sylvania, created this beautiful rustic loaf and provided the recipe for our feature. “The method is simple, and it’s made with ingredients everyone has in their pantry,” she commented. “It’s the perfect complement to your Irish feast.”
Serve with a pat of Kerrygold Irish butter and a drizzle of pure honey.

Irish Soda Bread

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup buttermilk

Heat oven to 375 F.

Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine.

Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly.

Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. 

In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture.

Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 – 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. Continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes, if desired.

(Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com)