Authentic 4-Ingredient Irish Bread (Printable Version)
Rustic Irish bread with a golden crust and tender crumb, made with simple ingredients and buttermilk.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly blended.
03 - Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in buttermilk and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead just until it holds together—avoid overworking. Shape into a round, flattened loaf about 2 inches thick and place on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Cut a deep X across the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
06 - Transfer bread to a wire rack. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing to ensure proper texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 10 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
- The texture is incredible, crusty outside and tender inside, like something from a bakery
02 -
- Overworking the dough makes it tough, so handle it gently and minimally
- The X cut on top is not decorative, it helps the bread bake evenly and prevents the center from being doughy
03 -
- The hollow sound when tapping the bottom is your best indicator of doneness
- Letting the bread cool completely prevents it from becoming gummy inside