Irish Soda Bread Caraway Seeds (Printer-friendly)

Hearty Irish bread with a golden crust and delicate caraway aroma, great for breakfast or sides.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Seeds

05 - 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
07 - 1 large egg

→ Fat

08 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and caraway seeds until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter until fully combined.
04 - Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
05 - Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead just until it comes together, being careful not to overwork. Shape into a round loaf about 8 inches in diameter and place on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Using a sharp knife, cut a deep X across the top of the loaf about 1/2 inch deep. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom.
07 - Transfer to a wire cooling rack and let rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing to ensure proper texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The caraway creates this incredible aroma that makes your whole house feel like an Irish bakery
  • Its ready in under an hour but tastes like something that took all day to make
  • The crust gets perfectly golden while staying soft inside, ideal for slathering with butter
02 -
  • The hollow sound when you tap the bottom is your real indicator of doneness, not just the color
  • Overworking the dough makes it tough, so stop as soon as everything comes together
  • The X cut isn't just decorative, it helps the bread expand properly while baking
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and give you better results
  • If you don't have buttermilk, mix regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes

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