I've had many Irish Soda Breads...just had one at a friends house today,but I like this recipe the best....

Irish Soda Bread

2 C. flour, 2T. sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 3 T. butter softened, 1/2 C. seedless raisins 1 C. buttermilk

Mix first 5 ingredients. Cut in softened butter with pastry cutter. Blend until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add raisins. Add buttermilk. Mix with fork only till dry ingredients are moistened. Turn out on lightly floured surface. Knead gently till smooth. About 1 minute. Shape into ball. Place on greased baking sheet. Flatten into 7" circle. Dough will be about 1 1/2" thick. Press large floured knife into center halfway through dough. Repeat at right angle to divide into 1/4's (do not cut all the way through) Bake 30 - 40 min. or until loaf is golden and loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Place on rack to cool. Brush top with 1 T. melted butter. Later dust with flour (I don't usually dust). Loaf will seem like it's hard as a rock but when you slice it, it will be moist and lovely. I'll always remember the first time I made it, a friend's husband made fun of me because it seemed like it was like a large hockey puck. I didn't know what to expect, but I had the last laugh because it was delicious!

Do you ever add caraway seeds?

I like caraway seeds and I've had Irish Soda bread with them, but I don't care for it with caraway seeds. But that's just me.

This is the recipe I have used for years. We love it. Occasionally, I will make half of the recipe and make one really big loaf.

IRISH SODA BREAD

From AS

8 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3 tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

3 cups raisins

3 eggs, well beaten

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 quart buttermilk

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all dry ingredients in large bowl.
Add raisins. Stir in eggs and
melted butter; add buttermilk. Mix with
your hands until well combined. Dough
should be moist. Put dough into 3
lightly greased (I use Pam) 9X5 loaf pans. Bake 40-50 minutes. Check after 40 minutes with a knife inserted
near the center; if it comes out clean the bread is done. If not done, check again in 5 minutes.

Had Irish soda bread served at Irish pub today.

My choice is Irish Brown Bread, which I love.

Here's a recipe I shared. Never made it, but KT'er used this recipe and thought it was great.

Irish Brown Bread

If you can't get to Ireland to savor their wonderful Brown Bread,
this is the best recipe using American whole wheat flour:

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons toasted wheat bran
3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ
2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (¼ stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Combine first 8 ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles fine meal. Stir in enough buttermilk to form soft dough. Transfer dough to prepared loaf pan.

Bake until bread is dark brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Turn bread out of pan and cool right side up on rack.

It's been a lot of years ago, but I was one of those that tried Glenda's Irish Brown Bread. I made it several times back then. Really good.

Georgysmom does your recipe call for any salt? Also what temperature do you bake yours at. I baked mine at 350. Thanks for the recipe and to others too.

Sue

I just took Irish Soda Bread out of the oven 5 minutes ago. I got the recipe from Epicurious. Epicurious recipe. But I got partway through and it hit me that there are no caraway seeds in it! Yikes! I love caraway seeds in Irish Soda Bread. So .... I added a handful.

We're not cutting into this bread until tonight so I can't comment on how good it is. According to the reviews, it's great. But with no caraway? Seriously? (I'm really kidding - - - but I do like caraway in it).

Happy St. Pats, everyone!

Late, but this is THE BEST IRISH SODA BREAD recipe, I swear.

I only change it a wee bit by including carraway seeds and raisins. Accept that you don't really need this bread. Rather, it gets sort of scraped / formed together (it tends to be a loose dough). I use a marble or wood surface and a plastic bench scraper.

Wet your knife in hot water before slicing the X on top. Follow directions. I make this all the time and get requests for it. Remember to brush the top with a bit of milk to ensure a golden top.

http://andreasrecipes.com/irish-soda-bread/ 

Marilyn Sue....I am so, so sorry. I cannot believe I didn't pick that up. Yes, 1/2 tsp. salt. It only takes minutes to throw together. Made some this morning. I just corrected the recipe. Thank you for calling it to my attention.

Thanks Georgysmom, I thought after I tasted it, it needed a little something more.

Sue