Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp fine salt
• 1.75 cups buttermilk

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine salt together in a large bowl.
3. Make a well and pour in 1.5 cups of the buttermilk, mixing with a fork just until a shaggy dough forms; add the remainder only if needed to bring the dough together and leave it slightly tacky, 30–45 seconds.
4. Turn the dough onto the prepared sheet and gently shape it into a round about 7 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick, handling as little as possible.
5. With a sharp knife, cut a deep cross on top, about 0.5–0.75 inch deep, to help the center cook evenly.
6. Bake 15 minutes at 425°F, then reduce the oven to 400°F (200°C) and continue baking 25–30 minutes until deeply golden; the loaf should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom or read 200–205°F (93–96°C) internally.
7. Cool on a wire rack for 10–15 minutes before slicing; serve slightly warm for best texture.