Irish soda bread is the perfect accompaniment to St. Patrick’s Day fare such as corned beef and cabbage. For years I’ve relied on an easy soda bread recipe that in my notes I attributed to a MP Welty. I don’t recall who that is or where I got the recipe, but it’s a good one! 

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur)

4 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup softened margarine

1 egg

1/4 cup melted butter

Method

1. Lightly grease a large baking pan or sheet. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a stand-up mixer or large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, margarine, egg and 1 cup of the buttermilk.
3. Turn the dough out onto a flour-dusted surface, knead lightly and form by hand into a round.
4. Place the dough onto the greased baking sheet.
5. Whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup of buttermilk and the melted butter in a small bowl.
6. Brush the loaf with the butter and buttermilk mixture.
7. Cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf with a sharp knife.
8. Bake in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the loaf comes out clean. You can brush the loaf once or twice with any leftover butter/buttermilk while it bakes.