My Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread

Growing up in a very Irish home, we always had Irish Soda bread baking in the kitchen. Both of my grandmother’s had their own recipe and so did my Aunt Carol! All very delicious but I decided to share with you my Grandma Carroll’s recipe.

Grandma Carroll was very special to me! She was my mom’s mom. She grew up in County Clare, Ireland and moved to New York City where she met my Grandfather and started her family.  My grandmother was a true gem!  It would take me days even weeks to tell you what she really meant to me.  She played a big part in my upbringing and her Irish Soda bread was one of the first that I can remember. So I hope you like it.  She was definitely with me in spirit when making this.

You start by adding all of the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, and baking soda)  Then fold in the raisins.

Add the buttermilk, melted shortening and egg to the dry ingredients and mix together.  Then add to a 9 x 9 loaf pan.

Bake for an hour and enjoy.  I really love the crunchy brown top of this loaf.  It adds a nice texture to the bread.

It’s even better with a little butter on it.  That is how my grandmother and mom eat it.  Enjoy it with a little tea or coffee and you have the perfect breakfast, dessert or even a midnight snack.

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My Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 3 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 cup Raisins
• 1 1/4 cup Buttermilk
• 1/2 cup Shortening melted
• 1 Egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Mix all dry ingredients starting from the top of the ingredients
3. Fold raisins well through the flour
4. Mix the buttermilk, egg and melted shortening together and add dry ingredients
5. Mix until it forms a stiff dough
6. Place dough in a 9 x 9 or a loaf pan
7. Bake at 375 for 1 hour
8. Cool for 15 minutes
9. Eat warm or cold

Recipe Notes

I actually didn't mix the wet ingredients before putting it with the dry ingredients and it seemed to work fine.

Lesson 1 - Read the instructions to the letter!

Lesson learned!