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Best Easy Irish Soda Bread with Currants

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This tender, buttery Irish soda bread is studded with plump currants and comes together in under an hour with no yeast required. It’s the perfect quick bread for St. Patrick’s Day or any day you crave a warm, comforting loaf.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons (36g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup (160g) dried currants (Zante currants recommended)
  • 1 1/4 cups (300ml) buttermilk (full-fat preferred)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and position rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Soak currants in a small bowl covered with boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain well and pat dry with a paper towel.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed (about 15 seconds).
  4. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or two forks until mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining.
  5. Toss in drained currants and stir to coat with flour mixture.
  6. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk. Stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula just until dough comes together (it will look shaggy and slightly dry).
  7. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently 8 to 10 times, just until it holds together.
  8. Shape dough into a round loaf about 6 to 7 inches across and place on prepared baking sheet.
  9. Score a deep cross on top using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cutting about 1/2 inch deep.
  10. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped on the bottom (internal temperature should reach 190°F/88°C). Rotate pan halfway through.
  11. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

For best results, keep butter and buttermilk cold. Do not over-knead; 8 to 10 gentle turns is enough. Soaking currants in hot water plumps them for a juicier texture. If dough seems too dry, add another tablespoon of buttermilk; if too sticky, add a tablespoon more flour. Let bread cool at least 20 minutes before slicing to avoid a gummy interior.

Nutrition

Keywords: Irish soda bread, currant bread, quick bread, St. Patrick's Day, easy bread recipe, no yeast bread

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/best-easy-irish-soda-bread-with-currants/