Irish Soda Bread Three Ways

3 Yummy Ways to Jazz Up Irish Soda Bread

I’ve spent a few years trying to find a really good, basic Irish soda bread recipe. Last year I hit the nail on the head when I followed the Barefoot Contessa’s method. Like me, she often found this type of bread to be dense, bland, and to be honest, a little boring. So I took her lead and basic breakdown of ingredients and created three flavourful variations on this classic St. Patrick’s Day fare.

If you aren’t familiar with baking bread from scratch this recipe is a great place to start. There’s no need to worry about the yeast, and you’ll be able to skip the more traditional and longer rising times. Instead, you mix the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer, add your favourite flavours to the batter, and whisk everything together with the same ease as preparing a basic recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

Here are three family-friendly ways to bake up this popular bread:

Golden Raisin Soda Bread with Orange and Cardamom

Follow the basic recipe for basic Irish soda bread. Before you add the butter to the bowl, remove one tablespoon of the flour mixture and combine it with one cup of golden raisins. Once the buttermilk mixture has been blended with the dry ingredients, add the raisins, one teaspoon of orange zest, and ½ teaspoon of cardamom to the batter. Stir well and continue making the bread, following the recipe directions.

Cheddar Cheese and Dill Soda Bread

Follow the basic recipe for basic Irish soda bread, but reduce the sugar to two tablespoons. Add 1 ½ cups grated Irish cheddar and one teaspoon dried dill weed to the batter after the buttermilk mixture has been incorporated. Stir well and continue making the bread following the recipe directions.

Seeded Soda Bread

Follow the recipe for basic Irish soda bread. Add four tablespoons of assorted seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy, chia) to the batter after the buttermilk mixture has been incorporated. Stir well and continue making the bread following the recipe.