Irish Soda Bread Muffins
Traditional soda bread meets sweet, flaky buttermilk style muffins in this easy Irish soda bread muffins recipe. They’re perfect for any meal of the day, and can be spread with butter, gravy, or whatever soup you’re serving. Whether it’s time to celebrate an Irish holiday like Saint Patrick’s Day, or it’s just time for a delicious meal, these muffins are a must have on your menu!
Every good meal calls for some kind of carb based bread to accompany it, or at least that’s what I was taught growing up. The same old adage still holds true in my more contemporary (but still bread friendly) kitchen today.
If supper’s on the table, you can bet there’s also a basket full of something- sliced bread, dinner rolls, or something of the sort.
Whether it’s paired with butter, or strategically meant to help sop up any and all delicious juices- it’s there.
Because bread often does have a purpose, whether it’s functional or flavorful, with our bigger meals- it means that I tend to think about and then purposefully pick which kind to pair with our menu.
What Is A Traditional Irish Soda Bread?
Soda bread, especially when the word Irish is used, sounds pretty foreign. Which kinda makes it sound all the more exciting.
I mean anything with a foreign countries name in it always piques my interest!
Usually, I’d expect a special cooking method or some other secret, but the Irish were speaking my language when they created this simple bread method. It’s so simple it’s genius really.
Soda bread isn’t nearly as exotic as it may sound, y’all. The traditional Irish loaf is dense and unleavened- no yeast involved.
The soda in the name actually refers to baking soda. Since no yeast is involved, there’s still got to be something in the ingredients to rise. This bread is denser than traditional yeast bread, but not so flat it’s like hard tack.
Simple Ingredients, Easy To Find Make Up The List For This Irish Bread Recipe
A traditional soda bread is made from a combination of flour, buttermilk, salt, sugar, and obviously the baking soda (instead of yeast).
While that’s the basis of the basic version, or should we say traditional? Many bakers have livened it up with some well known additions.
And I’m sure you’ll find just as many purists who insist upon flavorful additions such as raisins or even spices like caraway seeds in the batter and/or pressed into the loaf so they’re baked into the crust.
We have included the suggestion in the recipe card, but we kept the recipe itself basic.
Plain old easy Irish soda bread muffins that you can whip up and pair with so many different dishes- whether the holiday’s here or not!
Making Irish Soda Bread Muffins- An Easy How To
First, the butter and sugars need to be creamed together until light & fluffy. This can be done in the bowl of a stand mixer, in a regular mixing bowl with a hand mixer, or in a mixing bowl with a sturdy whisk and a lot of elbow grease.
Add the egg & egg yolk, whipping them in again until the mixture’s smooth and fluffy. Scrape any dough down from the sides and make sure it’s all evenly incorporated.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together until smooth.
Reduce the mixing speed of your stand mixer (if using) to the lowest speed, then slowly add in some of the dry ingredients followed by some of the buttermilk until evenly mixed in. Repeat, alternating, until both are completely incorporated.
Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners, or liberally spray it with non stick cooking spray. To each muffin well, add roughly 3 tablespoons of batter.
Bake the muffins at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove the muffins from the oven, let them rest for 5 full minutes, and then run a butter knife around the edges to release them from the pan. Transfer them to a wire rack and let them finish cooling.
Serve the muffins while still warm, preferably spread with a pat of butter.
Serving Irish Soda Bread, Making It A Meal
Meat & potatoes dishes always need to be rounded out with a good vegetable and a good bread, especially if there’s gravy involved.
These dense, but moist muffins make the perfect option. Especially since they’re quick and easy to whip up, even at the last minute, with no kneading necessary or waiting around on rise times.
Soups. Soups always need bread. Whether crumbled on top to absorb some of the rich, flavorful broth- or dunked in to scoop up a bite in lou of the more traditional spoon.
These flavorful muffins even pair well with a simple side salad for an easy dinner. I’m not kidding, you really can’t go wrong here. You can even simply slather them with some softened butter, and just enjoy them alone. They’re so good, however you decide to serve them- you really can’t go wrong.
It’s the biggest reason I love these simple savory muffins. You can make a batch whenever the mood strikes, and then keep them on hand to pair with whatever you feel like fixing throughout the week.
Other Traditional Irish Recipes To Make & Enjoy:
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Ingredients
- 1 stick butter softened
- 6 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup whole fat buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Whip them on high speed until the mixture's light & fluffy.
- Add the egg, and continue whipping on high speed again until the batter's light and fluffy.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients- the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Using a whisk, gently stir them until evenly combined.
- Using a spatula, scrape the batter down the sides of the mixing bowl adding it back to the main mixture.
- Reduce the mixing speed to the lowest setting and begin adding the rest of the ingredients. Start with the flour mixture, then the buttermilk and mix until completely combined. Repeat, alternating and incorporating them but ending with the buttermilk.
- Liberally spray a cupcake pan or muffin tin with non stick cooking spray. To each bowl, add roughly 3 tablespoons of batter.
- Bake the muffins at 350 degrees for roughly 20 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the muffins from the oven, let them rest for 5 full minutes, and then run a butter knife around the edges to release them from the pan. Transfer them to a wire rack and let them finish cooling.
Notes
Nutrition
What a great idea to make soda bread into muffins! I can’t wait to try these
These sound much better than soda bread!! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Can you use parchment paper liners for the muffins?
You could! Especially if your pan is prone to sticking, or you don’t want to use non stick spray.
I can’t find whole fat buttermilk. Can I use low fat instead?
Yes, you can Gina!
What is a good amount of raisins to add to the batter?
Wait where or when do u add egg yolk it’s never mentioned in directions. But mentioned in ingredients
Yes, where do you add the egg yolk that’s in the recipe?
When it says to add egg, it means both the whole egg & the extra yolk at the same time. Sorry if that wasn’t more clear!
Very fluffy and light. Not dense like other soda breads. So easy to make!!!!!! Delicious light flavor!
I made these for the first time this week. I love the taste, and the appearance (as opposed to sour dough bread). They are n my “go to” list now. Thanks for sharing!