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Last Updated on March 17, 2026 by Melanie
Skillet Irish Soda Bread – This simple Irish soda bread bakes up beautifully in a skillet. So easy to prepare! Perfect for St. Patricks day.
Ingredients for Irish Soda Bread
- All-purpose Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar
- salt
- Butter
- Buttermilk
I figured I’d better get on the bandwagon for Irishness since St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon. And because I don’t like to go overboard with the sweets, I decided upon this bread. Found the recipe in my The Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book. Have I mentioned how much I love this cookbook?
Why Make this Bread
- It’s easy and doesn’t require rise time.
- To try something new, of course!
- You want to have a side dish for St. Patricks day dinnner.
Frequently asked questions
- Can it be made ahead of time? Sure! It just won’t be as fresh.
- How soon can you eat it? Make sure to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Bread gets gummy if you slice it while it’s hot.
- Can I make my own buttermilk? Yes, add 1 Tablespoon of vinegar to a liquid one cup measuring cup. Fill with milk to the 1 cup line. Let rest for 5 minutes. Use in the recipe for buttermilk.
Hope you decide to go Irish on me and try this bread. It’s easy. No yeast. No rising. Prep time is only about 15 minutes. No bad at all for a delicious traditional bread!
Let me know if you’re going to give it a try.
Til we meet and eat again,
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To make this recipe well:
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Irish Soda Bread
- Yield: 8 -10 1x
Ingredients
- 3 cups 15 ounces all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 4 ounces cake flour
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Whisk all purpose flour, cake flour, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt together in large bowl. Add softened butter and use your fingers incorporate into flour mixture. Make a well in center of flour and pour in 1 1/2 cups buttermilk. Stir with fork until completely combined. Add buttermilk one tablespoon at a time until all flour is moistened.
- Place dough on a lightly floured surface and shape into a rough 6 or 7 inch round. Dough will look uneven and shaggy.
- Place dough in a 12 inch cast iron skillet. Score a cross, about 5 inches by 5 inches and 3/4 inch deep. Bake until lightly browned and knife inserted in the oven comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Brush with melted butter, if desired.
- Let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe from: The Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book
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I LOVE baking too! I like to cook…but definitely would much rather bring out the Kitchenaid!
Irish soda bread is so yum…but I have yet to try making it. Until now!
Yum!
A girl after my own heart. Hope you get a chance to make it Taylor! Thanks for stopping by.
I too adore baking – but I tend to bake more scones, cookies, muffins and cakes than breads and savory items – but thinking that needs to change!
My daughter and I have tried bread making a couple of times and have not been quite pleased with the results – it must be because we didn’t have a recipe like yours, Melanie!
I wish I lived close by. I would come over and help you conquer your first loaf. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
This soda bread looks amazing! Nothing like the smell of baking bread in your oven : )
Agreed Natalie!
Such a great recipe for St. Patrick’s Day! This bread looks delicious. I love Cook’s Illustrated anything!!
I know. Their cookbooks are the best. Thanks Cate!
I’ve still never tried Irish Soda bread! It looks so delicious though!
Thanks Jessica! Give it a try!
I LOVE skillet recipes! And have never tried irish soda bread – that definitely needs to change!!
Thanks for stopping by Chelsea!
Melanie this bread looks perfect! If you could just pass that piece with butter on it right on over to me 😀
Sure. I don’t mind sharing! 😉
I love those napkins too!! You might have to share where you scored those. This bread looks amazing. Soft and classic!!
This little hole in the wall place called Target. 😉 Thanks Zainab!
I am more of a baker too hehe. Especially when it is bread what we’re talking about :–)
This looks fantastic and I bet it is glorious with some melted butter on top ooooohhhh.
Bakers unite (with butter in hand)!
Haha, I am definitely more of a baker than a cook. I can bake in my sleep, but when it comes to cooking, I am suddenly out of my element.
This bread looks SO good!!
Thank you! Bakers rock! 😉
I just love the Cooks Illustrated Baking book! I actually received it as a gift a few months ago and have yet to bake anything from it. I’ve been craving homemade bread lately and this would be perfect!
You definitely need to open it and get baking. Lots of great classic recipes!
Lovely looking bread!!
I work a lot with yeast, and I’ve actually never tried Irish soda bread
I need to try 🙂
This bread looks really good. I will definitely have to try this. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by Jodee!