Grandma Rourke's Irish Bread

Celebrate the comforting tradition of Irish baking with Grandma Rourke's Irish Bread, a family favorite that blends simplicity and flavor in every bite. This traditional soda bread recipe combines pantry staples like all-purpose flour, buttermilk, and a touch of sweetness from raisins or currants, resulting in a tender, golden loaf with a subtly tangy crumb. The option to include caraway seeds adds an earthy, aromatic twist, while the classic cross scored on top gives it that signature rustic charm. Perfectly baked in a cast-iron skillet or cake pan, this easy-to-make bread is ready in under an hour and pairs beautifully with butter, jam, or a hearty Irish stew. Whether you're honoring St. Patrick's Day or simply craving homemade comfort, this tender Irish bread will bring a taste of tradition to your table.

Nutriscore Rating: 57/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:50 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 cups All-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Baking powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking soda
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Caraway seeds (optional)
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1.5 cups Raisins or currants
• 1.75 cups Buttermilk
• 1 Egg

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan or cast-iron skillet.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and caraway seeds (if using) until well combined.

Step 3

Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry mixture. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 4

Stir in the raisins or currants, spreading them evenly throughout the mixture.

Step 5

In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg until combined.

Step 6

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the buttermilk-egg mixture into it.

Step 7

Using a wooden spoon or your hands, gently fold and mix until a sticky dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 8

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently just until it comes together, about 8-10 turns.

Step 9

Form the dough into a round loaf and transfer it to the prepared pan or skillet.

Step 10

Using a sharp knife, score a 1/2-inch deep cross on top of the loaf. This helps the bread bake evenly and is a traditional Irish touch.

Step 11

Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 12

Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 13

Slice and serve warm or at room temperature, with butter or jam if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1379.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3635.7

Total Fat 73.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 40.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.6g
Cholesterol 367.0mg	0%
Sodium 5105.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 684.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.2g	0%
Total Sugars 264.1g
Protein 78.3g	0%

Vitamin D 298.0IU	0%
Calcium 752.7mg	0%
Iron 28.8mg	0%
Potassium 3044.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 17.9%

Protein: 8.4%

Carbs: 73.7%