I came across this recipe on one of the blogs I read, Mommie Cooks. She also happens to be a Tasty Kitchen member, and her recipe box is full of delicious and quick things to make. I love a good quickbread recipe, and the fact that this one takes only about 5 minutes to throw together is a huge plus. All the magic happens in the oven, with hardly any effort on your part. And who doesn’t love a loaf of freshly baked bread? It just screams ‘home’ to me. I made this bread for our Bible study group, and I could almost swear more bread was eaten than the main dish that I prepared to go with it.
Ingredients
(Serves 6)
4 ¾ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp caraway seeds
3 TBS honey
1 egg
1 ½ cups buttermilk
3 TBS butter, melted
Only 4 dry ingredients need to be assembled: flour, salt, baking soda, and caraway seeds.
Mix the dry ingredients together.
I love the flavor that the caraway seeds give this bread. They are nice and strong, so even though the recipe only calls for a teaspoon, that’s exactly the right amount.
And I love, love, love my new flour canister. It’s from WalMart.
It makes the flour-measuring experience so much cleaner than when I measured it straight out of the paper bag and flour poofed all over my countertops, floor, and clothing.
Now gather the remaining ingredients:
No, that’s not a mug of tea or coffee–it’s the melted butter. And don’t tempt me to drink it straight outta that mug, because I won’t!
Unless it’s a double-dog dare.
I’ve never been double-dog-dared before, so I have no idea what would happen were I confronted with a choice. Swallow my pride . . . or drink the butter. Humble myself . . . or drink the golden greasy stuff.
Ah, the mental dilemmas that rage in my mind throughout the day.
Add the egg and honey. . .
. . . pour in the buttermilk (I never have buttermilk on hand, so I used a handy substitution: 2% milk mixed with 1 1/2 TBS of lemon juice) . . .
. . . and stir everything around until the dough is just starting to come together (about 1 minute).
Add in the melted butter . . .
. . . and knead very briefly on a floured countertop, just until the dough holds its shape.
Make sure not to overknead! This step only took me (literally) 15 seconds.
Form a ball, and cut two slits in the top of the ball in the shape of a cross.
Put the dough on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes.
When you remove it from the oven, test the bread with a toothpick in its thickest part to make sure it’s done.
If the toothpick comes out sticky or has a little dough on it, put the bread back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes and then probe its depths again.
I didn’t test my bread very carefully, so upon cutting it open I encountered a large lump of uncooked dough in the middle. Mercifully, I just popped it back in the oven and all was well–thank heavens for low-maintenance baking recipes such as this one.
Let it cool for a few minutes before cutting and serving.
Slather with butter, if desired.
I desire.
Would you look at that beautiful crust?
I need to put this on the menu again asap.
Click here for printer-friendly version: Irish Soda Bread
Jenna, your loaf came out absolutely gorgeous!! I give a big ol’ Yay! for quick bread as well. If it weren’t for loaves like this, I’d be cooking bread a lot less often, that’s for sure. Thanks so much for the shoutout!
This looks incredible! One of the best Irish Soda breads I have seen.
Jenna, I’ve never tried Irish Soda Bread. Maybe I need to since it does not feature my arch nemesis…yeast.
Any bread recipe without yeast is definitely something I can get behind. You loaf is very fetching!
Leave it to a good loaf of bread to be a total and absolute attention whore! Deservedly so. this looks delicious!
yum!
Wow that’s it? It has to be the easiest bread ever 🙂 Oh I do believe you that the bread sold more the main dish!
That looks awesome!!! Is it similar to the beer bread?
Yes, it’s similar in texture, but it has a different flavor. The caraway really gives it a unique twist.
Jenna, your food photos are something else. I’m hungry now!!
This sounds great! I love quick breads, but they don’t often get such a beautiful crust like this one. I have to try this version out!
This looks amazing! There’s nothing I love more than the smell of fresh bread straight out of the oven… well, maybe the taste of fresh bread. 🙂 I’m going to try this soon!
I like Irish Soda Bread. I make mine with raisins. It’s so easy to do and it’s delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe. Blessings, Jenna…
May I please sign up for your Bible study with food, PLEASE???
YES!! Just swing by Chicago–it would be lovely!
The only Irish soda bread I ever made came out as a massive fail. The recipe came from an Irish woman whose recipe had been passed down through generations. But she totally must have lied and altered it to keep it sacred b/c if I made what she serves her B&B guests, then she must have insurance to pay for all the chipped teeth that happen upon taking the first bite of her bread. Inedible, and I followed the recipe to a T. This looks much more promising! I adore caraway seeds in bread. Oh, I want some now.
This looks AWESOME!!!!
i love that this doesnt have yeast! looks delicious!
While I like the flavor of caraway seeds I don’t enjoy the texture of seeds in my bread. This looks fantastic, but I was wondering if you could use crushed instead of whole seeds? And if anyone knows how the measurement would differ? Thanks in advance!
Hi Christina! I haven’t tried that but good luck figuring out the conversion! I’m sure it’s possible, but I wouldn’t know how much to add.