Irish Soda Bread With Irish Butter

Everyone's a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day, right? To celebrate, drop your favorite green emoji in the comments!

This recipe is super simple and quick—no yeast, no shaping, and no kneading required!

Ingredients:

- 3 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 cup cake flour

- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or organic coconut sugar)

- 1.5 teaspoons baking soda

- 1.5 teaspoons cream of tartar

- 1.5 teaspoons table salt

- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

- 1.5 - 1.75 cups buttermilk

- Good quality butter, such as Kerrygold, for serving

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cake flour, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix well.

3. Add the softened butter to the dry mixture and combine until the texture is crumbly.

4. Slowly pour in the buttermilk, mixing until all the loose flour is just moistened. You may need to adjust the amount of buttermilk to achieve the right consistency.

5. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat it into a 6-inch round shape.

6. Place the dough in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Using a sharp knife, score a deep cross on top of the bread.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown. You can brush the top with melted butter during the last few minutes of baking for extra flavor.

8. Allow the bread to cool for at least 30 minutes (if you can resist the temptation) before slicing.

Enjoy this delightful soda bread with a generous spread of Irish butter!