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Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter

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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a warm hunk of traditional Irish soda bread slathered with orange butter. This easy recipe is flavored with buttermilk and orange and pairs just as well with coffee or a pint! Cheers!
Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter

“I love bread!” (and especially this traditional Irish soda bread!) No offense to Oprah, but I’m pretty sure she stole that from me. And it’s true, I think it would be physically, and even more so mentally impossible, for me to go carb free.  

Call it addiction or obsession. Bah, I call it love.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter

Today we’re making a (mostly) traditional soda bread with orange butter. The only tweak from a traditional recipe is the addition of a little sugar and orange zest.

I love the slightly citrus flavor the zest brings to the bread, but if you’re not super citrusy, feel free to omit.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter

Soda bread is EASY!

DO NOT be intimidated because this is called bread.

It only has 6 ingredients other than brush of butter and sprinkle of sugar over the top and is easier than biscuits, cookies, or my kid’s math homework (quite frankly a lot easier than his homework).

The key is not to over-mix and there’s absolutely no kneading required. I more or less gather the dough and form it into a ball, cut a criss-cross, cover (yes cover) and bake.

There’s quick and easy video tutorial below just to prove I’m not pulling your chain.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter

Tips for success

  • Don’t over-mix the dough, stir just until the buttermilk is absorbed and the dough hold together.
  • Gather and form the dough into a round on a lightly floured surface. Use a light touch to ensure a tender crumb.
  • Be sure the pan is well greased with butter.
  • Be sure to bake the bread in a baking dish with a tight-fitted lid. You’ll uncover it at the end of baking to brown.
  • This bread is delicious cut into wedges served warm, with copious amounts of orange butter!
Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter

More St. Patrick’s Day faves

4.5 from 10 votes
Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter on a wire rack with a jar of honey, fresh oranges and a green pitcher in the background.
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Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a warm hunk of Irish soda bread slathered with orange butter. This easy recipe is flavored with buttermilk and orange and pairs just as well with coffee or a pint! Cheers!

Course: Bread
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: irish soda bread, soda bread
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 385 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…
Ingredients
Irish Soda Bread
  • 3 1/2 cups AP flour
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
  • 2 Tbsp butter melted (+ 1 Tbsp butter for greasing the pan)
  • 2 tsp sugar
Orange Butter
  • 4 oz unsalted butter softened
  • 2 tsp orange zest
  • 1 Tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange liqueur
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • honey for serving (optional)
Instructions
Irish Soda Bread

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and grease the bottom of a ceramic dutch oven (or a non-greased cast iron skillet if you prefer).

  2. In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, salt, soda and zest.
  3. Add in the buttermilk and stir until just combined.
  4. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round, no need to knead.

  5. Cut a cross in the center. I sometimes make mine a little deeper for a flatter, crustier bread. Make shallower cuts for a higher bread.

  6. Transfer to the prepared pan and brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
  7. Cover and bake for 30 mins, remove the cover and continue to bake an additional 12-15 mins, or until golden brown.
  8. Cool slightly and serve warm with orange butter and honey.
Orange Butter

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth and well blended. Alternatively, beat in a mixing bowl with an electric beater.

Recipe Notes
  • Don’t over-mix the dough, stir just until the buttermilk is absorbed and the dough hold together.
  • Gather and form the dough into a round on a lightly floured surface. Use a light touch to ensure a tender crumb.
  • Be sure the pan is well greased with butter.
  • Be sure to bake the bread in a baking dish with a tight-fitted lid. You’ll uncover it at the end of baking to brown.
  • This bread is delicious cut into wedges served warm, with copious amounts of orange butter!
Nutrition Facts
Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter
Amount Per Serving
Calories 385 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Cholesterol 45mg15%
Sodium 1100mg48%
Potassium 140mg4%
Carbohydrates 50g17%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 541IU11%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 81mg8%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
7

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    Your diet sounds like my diet Cathy! Full of delicious bread! I’ve been trying to cut down, but I’ll totally make an exception for this yummy Irish Soda Bread! I love the citrus addition and that orange butter! I’d have a hard time enjoying just one piece!!

    Reply

    • Cathy says

      Thanks Mary Ann. Remembering that beautiful bread you brought when we met over the summer. Long live bread!

  2. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    Oh, how I love bread too…..and butter!!!! Is anything more satisfying! So good! I agree with you – everything in moderation. I don’t like to deny myself any one food. Eat something indulgent here, eat something lighter there, ya know? This bread sounds amazing and that butter? Swoooooon. Just love that pic too with the honey dripping. Pinned! It’s been so much fun, once again, collaborating with you guys! Have a fantastic weekend, my friend 🙂

    Reply

  5. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    No prettier words have ever been written… ‘warm hunk of Irish soda bread slathered with orange butter… Pairs well with coffee or a pint!’ Ahhh, you had my attention at word one! This bread would make Oprah very happy!! Well done, my friend!

    Reply

    • Cathy says

      Haha thanks Annie! Everything should pair well with coffee or a pint, or wine…right?!

  7. Cindy says

    5 stars
    I like your theme! A day without bread, just should not be, especially on those lucky days. I am in love with the orange butter. YUMMY!

    Reply

  8. Tamara Andersen says

    5 stars
    I am so with you on your “dream day” and lots of bread! Oh how I love bread… I deprive myself of its deliciousness too often. Your Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter is just so beautiful and delicious looking. It’s breaking down my will power!

    Reply

  9. Tara says

    I might try this! Your very Irish Aunt Mary would put currants in (and caraway seeds ON) but I like some orange zest in my baked things. Probably could do both!

    Reply

  10. Lynn | The Road to Honey says

    Ha! Ha! I thought Oprah stole that quote from you. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. As for the dream meal. . .I think we are dream meal twins except I would have to add pizza to the menu. . .because you know. . .more bread. And speaking of bread. Holy cow!!!! This bread looks completely & utterly irresisitble especially with that smear of orange butter on top. I think you are definitely going to need to hide this beauty from Oprah!!

    Reply

    • Cathy says

      OH MY! How in the world did I leave off pizza. You’re absolutely right Lynn. NOW, it’s a dream day.

  11. Meg | Meg is Well says

    5 stars
    I LOVE how crusty the top of this looks but how fluffy it is in the middle! You and me feel the same way about carbs, so I’m super happy that today isn’t about moderation! That soft and creamy slab of orange butter smeared on the bread is making me drool so much!

    Reply

  16. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    5 stars
    Hahahahaha! I love bread too… and I’m pretty sure Oprah can’t make a claim to that statement. Isn’t she on a diet now? That means MORE bread for me! Lol. I kid. Anyways, you just CAN’T celebrate St. Patty’s without Irish Soda bread and yours looks absolutely DELICIOUS, Cathy! And that orange butter sounds like the perfect smear! Seriously, I could make a meal out of JUST this bread and butter. YUM! Pinned! Cheers, friend!

    Reply

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