Traditional Irish Soda Bread

3½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1¾ cups buttermilk¹

 

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a round cake pan (8- or 9-inch).

 

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Pour in 1½ cups of buttermilk and mix quickly. Add in remaining ¼ cup buttermilk and mix. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for only a few seconds to make sure it holds together. Shape into a round disk and place in the prepared cake pan. Cut a cross into the top of the bread. Cover with another inverted cake pan.

 

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove top cake pan and bake an additional 15 minutes. When bread is done, you will hear a hollow sound when you thump the bottom of the loaf.

 

Slice and enjoy with butter.