Traditional Irish Soda Bread

🧂 Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups buttermilk
• add-ins

  optional

Instructions

• 1 Position a rack in the center of the oven and  preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
  Lightly flour a large rimmed baking sheet.
• 2 Sift all of the dry ingredients into a large, wide mixing bowl. Make a well in
  the center and pour in 1-1/2 cups of the buttermilk. Stir with one hand, fingers
  apart, moving in circles to incorporate the buttermilk into the dry ingredients.
  If necessary, add more buttermilk 1 Tbs. at a time until the dough just barely
  comes together. (The absorption rate varies depending on the brand of flour.)
  The dough should be soft—don’t overwork it.
• 3 Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat into a round about 6-3/4
  inches in diameter and 1-1/2 inches high in the center. Invert the round so the
  floured side is on top. With a thin, sharp knife, score a cross on the dough
  about 1/4 inch deep and extending fully from one side to the other.
• 4 Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Lower
  the oven temperature to 400°F and bake until the bread is browned and sounds
  hollow when tapped on the bottom, another 20 to 30 minutes.
• 5 Cool to room temperature on a rack, about 2 hours, before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Info