Irish Soda Buns Recipes

IRISH SODA BREAD WITH CHEDDAR AND CHIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper to a large bowl. Whisk to break up any lumps of flour. Add the Cheddar and chives. Stir to evenly combine the ingredients. Set aside.
• Add the buttermilk and egg to a 2-cup measuring cup. Use a fork to scramble the egg into the buttermilk.
• Add the buttermilk mixture to the bowl with the flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to mix the ingredients until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Lightly flour your hands and knead the dough until it comes together, about 1 minute. Flip the dough so that it is seam-side down and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet. Use a serrated knife to cut a 1/2-inch-thick X on the top of the dough.
• Bake until the bread is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly on a wire rack before slicing.

INDIVIDUAL IRISH SODA BREADS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flour and butter, working it with your fingers until it has the consistency of coarse oatmeal. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and currants, still mixing with your fingers. Beat the egg and buttermilk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg-buttermilk mixture. Stir until well blended. Form into a ball.
• Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and knead the dough for 3-4 minutes, until smooth. Divide it into 16 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball and place the balls at least 3 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Gently press the top of each bun with a palm of your hand to flatten it slightly. Using a very sharp knife dipped into flour cut an inch-deep cross on the top of each bun. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and crusty. Cool on a wire rack.
• To Package: Buns and muffins look special when individually wrapped. To emphasize their simple origin, place each Irish Soda Bread in the center of a 12-in. square of brown butcher paper or tan tissue paper and twist all edges upward to resemble a flower. Present the soda breads in a low basket with a shamrock-shaped label.

SODA BREAD BUNS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work in butter until mixture forms coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg. Stir wet mixture into dry one until they just form a moist dough. Stir in currants and caraway seeds.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a 7-inch round about 1-inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges. Using lightly floured hands, roll each wedge into a ball and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Using kitchen shears, snip a small "x" into the top of each bun. (You can also use a knife.) Brush tops with a little buttermilk, and dust lightly with flour.
• Transfer baking sheet to oven. Bake until buns are golden brown and firm, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

IRISH SODA BREAD ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and currants. Stir in buttermilk until just combined.
• Turn out to a floured board and knead a few times, forming dough into a large flattened ball. Cut into 8 wedges and then form each wedge into a small ball.
• Place dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Cut an "X" in the tops of the dough balls with scissors. Brush with butter and bake in center of oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until browned.

CLASSIC IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Whisk together first 5 ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, whisk together 1 egg and buttermilk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Stir in raisins., Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 6-8 times. Shape into a 6-1/2-in. round loaf; place on a greased baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, make a shallow cross in top of loaf. Whisk remaining egg; brush over top., Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C and dust a baking sheet with flour. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then rub in the butter. Pour in the buttermilk and mix it in quickly with a table knife, then bring the dough together very lightly with your fingertips (handle it very, very gently). Now shape it into a flat, round loaf measuring 20cm/8in in diameter.
• Put the loaf on the baking sheet and score a deep cross in the top. (Traditionally, this lets the fairies out, but it also helps the bread to cook through.) Bake for 30-35 minutes until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If it isn't ready after this time, turn it upside down on the baking sheet and bake for a few minutes more.
• Transfer to a wire rack, cover with a clean tea towel (this keeps the crust nice and soft) and leave to cool. To serve, break into quarters, then break or cut each quarter in half to make 8 wedges or slices - or simply slice across. Eat very fresh.