Cozy Irish Soda Bread with Raisins and Caraway Seeds
A warm, comforting Irish soda bread featuring raisins and caraway seeds, perfect for cozy moments and easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (480 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons caraway seeds
- 3/4 cup (110 g) raisins, soaked in warm water or tea for 10 minutes and drained
- 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) buttermilk (or 1 3/4 cups milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar, let sit 5 minutes)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a rack in the middle position. Lightly grease a cast-iron skillet or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Soak the raisins in warm water or tea for about 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and caraway seeds. Stir gently to mix evenly.
- Add the soaked raisins to the dry ingredients and toss to distribute.
- Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and pour in the buttermilk and melted butter. Fold together gently with a wooden spoon or spatula until a sticky, shaggy dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape into a round loaf about 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. Do not knead.
- Transfer the loaf to the prepared baking surface. Using a sharp knife, score a deep ‘X’ about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) deep across the top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the crust is golden brown and firm. The bottom should sound hollow when tapped.
- Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Do not overmix the dough to avoid tough bread. Use fresh baking soda for best rise. Score the top deeply to help the bread expand. Let the bread cool completely before slicing for best texture. If crust browns too fast, tent with foil halfway through baking. Sticky dough is normal; avoid adding extra flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of loaf
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 34
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: Irish soda bread, soda bread with raisins, caraway seeds bread, quick bread, easy bread recipe, homemade soda bread, cozy bread