Irish Soda Bread with Dried Cranberries
Irish Soda Bread with Dried Cranberries is a traditional quick bread made with baking soda as a leavening agent. While it’s typically made of just flour, buttermilk, salt, and baking soda, we’re adding in some extras to make it even tastier. This simple bread has a dense yet tender crumb with a slightly tangy flavor, and is best served warm!
Best Irish Soda Bread
While we didn’t grow up eating Irish soda bread, I’ve eaten more than my fair share of samples every time I walk inside a Sprouts. I can never pass it up and have thought about sharing a recipe so often. Well – today is your LUCKY day! Get it? wink wink
Some History. Irish soda bread dates back to the early 19th century in Ireland when baking soda became widely available as a leavening agent. Traditional Irish households, particularly in rural areas, did not have access to yeast or modern ovens, so soda bread became a staple due to its simplicity and affordability.
In Irish folklore, scoring the bread was believed to “let the fairies out” or ward off evil spirits, bringing good luck to the household. We’ll take some of that good luck!
Why This Recipe Works:
- SIMPLE RECIPE – This simple 9-ingredient recipe is a little like making a giant scone, which is kinda cool since scones are our favorites.
- DENSE TEXTURE – Irish soda bread has a dense, little-bit-crumbly texture. It’s tangy and slightly sweetened and oh so delicious!
- A GREAT SNACK – We enjoy this bread for breakfast or snack, any time of day. I highly recommend you bake a loaf (or two) as soon as possible!
What You’ll Need:
- buttermilk
- egg
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- baking powder and baking soda
- kosher salt
- COLD unsalted butter
- dried cranberries
How to make Irish Soda Bread with Dried Cranberries:
Step 1
Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt.
Step 3
Add in butter. Add the cubed cold butter to the bowl and work it into the dry ingredients with a pasty cutter or your hands. I normally use my hands and just press the butter into the flour mixture for 30 seconds or so. Don’t overwork it.
Step 4
Add the wet ingredients. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and egg and whisk well. Then make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the wet ingredients. Stir together until the dough is combined. It will be shaggy. Then add the dried cranberries and mix again. You may need to use your hands to mix ingredients.
Step 5
Form loaf. Add a light dusting of flour to a cutting board. Turn the dough on to the board and form it into a round loaf. (It will be dry.) Use a sharp knife to carve an X into the top of the loaf.
Step 6
Bake bread. Bake bread for approximately 50-55 minutes or until top is golden brown and done in the center. If the loaf is getting too dark on top, tent some aluminum foil over the top for part of the baking.
Step 7
Cool. Carefully transfer bread to a wire cooling rack. Let sit for about 15 minutes before serving.
Step 8
Serve. Use a serrated edge bread knife to slice bread into approximately 12 slices. Serve bread warm with butter, honey, or jam!
Storing and Freezing:
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container for a couple of days.
- Place Irish soda bread in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.
Recipe FAQs:
To make your own buttermilk, mix just slightly less than 1 ¾ cups of milk with 1 ½ tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 10 minutes before using.
Yes, but the bread will be denser. You can try a 50/50 mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour for a balanced texture.
Yes, chopped walnuts, pecans, or raisins pair well with (or instead of) the cranberries.
The deep cut allows the bread to rise properly while baking, preventing it from cracking in unpredictable ways. Since soda bread is dense, scoring also helps heat penetrate the center, ensuring it cooks through.
Other Bread Recipes:
Bread is our jam, so to speak. Enjoy these recipes too!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Irish Soda Bread with Dried Cranberries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 Tablespoons COLD unsalted butter – cubed
- 1 cup dried cranberries – optional
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt.4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Add in butter. Add the cubed cold butter to the bowl and work it into the dry ingredients with a pasty cutter or your hands. I normally use my hands and just press the butter into the flour mixture for 30 seconds or so. Don’t overwork it.6 Tablespoons COLD unsalted butter
- Add the wet ingredients. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and egg and whisk well. Then make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the wet ingredients. Stir together until the dough is combined. It will be shaggy. Then add the dried cranberries and mix again. You may need to use your hands to mix ingredients.1 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1 large egg, 1 cup dried cranberries
- Form loaf. Add a light dusting of flour to a cutting board. Turn the dough on to the board and form it into a round loaf. (It will be dry.) Use a sharp knife to carve an X into the top of the loaf. Transfer loaf to prepared pan.
- Bake bread. Bake bread for approximately 50-55 minutes or until top is golden brown and done in the center. If the loaf is getting too dark on top, tent some aluminum foil over the top for part of the baking.
- Cool. Carefully transfer bread to a wire cooling rack. Let sit for about 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve. Use a serrated edge bread knife to slice bread into approximately 12 slices. Serve bread warm with butter, honey, or jam!
Notes
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container for a couple of days.
- Place Irish soda bread in a freezer bag for up to three months.
- To make homemade buttermilk, combine just slightly less than 1 ¾ cups of milk with 1 ½ tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 10 minutes before using.
Awesome recipe! I love it when tradition, simplicity and taste come together! Good stuff.