Irish soda bread is an easy quick bread recipe that's traditional in Ireland - and gets lots of attention around St Patrick's Day in the United States. This recipe is buttery, crusty perfection. Serve it warm from the oven for best flavor
Prepare a large baking sheet by spraying with non-stick cooking spray or lining it with parchment paper. You can also use a greased, cast iron skillet.
Blend the all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
Using the large side of a grater, grate the butter into the dry ingredients, stirring often to coat the shreds of butter.
Blend the egg with the buttermilk.
Pour into the dry ingredient mixture and stir lightly with a fork.
Turn the sticky dough out on a lightly floured work surface and gently form into a round that holds together.
Cut a deep cross or an X in the top.
Place the dough ball on the prepared sheet pan or cast iron skillet.
Bake for 40 minutes.
Remove when a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few clinging crumbs and the top is crusty and golden brown.
Notes
Expert tip: Although most recipes call for cutting in the butter I like to grate it because the long strands make the bread bake up flakier and even more buttery.
Keep all of the ingredients very cold. If the butter starts to warm up put it AND the bowl of flour in the freezer for a few minutes.
Don't over work the dough. Just gently shape it into a round.
Bake it on a baking sheet or in a heavy iron skillet. The skillet will give the Irish soda bread a crispier crust.