Classic Irish Whiskey Soda Bread with Honey
This delightful Irish Whiskey Soda Bread is a cherished recipe passed down from my dear friend Sue. It's the best soda bread I've ever tasted, with a perfect balance of sweetness from honey and warmth from Irish whiskey. The bread has a crusty exterior and a soft, tender interior that serves as an ideal accompaniment to hearty soups and stews. Best enjoyed warm with generous pats of butter melting into the crevices, this simple yet flavorful bread will quickly become a favorite in your home. Its ease of preparation makes it perfect for any occasion, whether shared among family or as a side dish at gatherings.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
8
Ingredients
Ingredients
flour
4 cups (all-purpose, sifted)
salt
1 teaspoon (fine sea salt)
baking soda
1 teaspoon (baking soda)
butter
1/4 cup (chilled, cut into small cubes)
buttermilk
1 1/2 cups (buttermilk)
liquid honey
1/4 cup (liquid honey)
Irish whiskey
1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons (Irish whiskey)
milk
2 teaspoons (milk)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
Prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it with cooking spray.
3
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
4
Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the chilled butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, ensuring that there are no large pieces of butter remaining.
5
In a separate small bowl or measuring cup, mix together the buttermilk, honey, and Irish whiskey until fully combined.
6
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients all at once and gently stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until no dry flour remains, being careful not to overmix.
7
Lightly flour your work surface and turn the dough out. Knead the dough gently for about 1 minute—just enough to bring it together without overworking it.
8
Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a round loaf, smoothing the tops.
9
Place the shaped loaves onto the prepared cookie sheet. Using a floured knife, score a cross approximately 1/2 inch deep on top of each loaf.
10
In a small bowl, mix together the additional Irish whiskey and milk to create a glaze. Brush this mixture generously over the tops of each loaf.
11
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottoms. They should be golden brown and fragrant.
12
Once baked, remove the loaves from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Cut into wedges or slices and serve warm, preferably with butter.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Classic Irish Whiskey Soda Bread with Honey?
It is a flavorful quick bread featuring a crusty exterior and soft interior, enriched with honey for sweetness and Irish whiskey for warmth.
Who provided this recipe?
This cherished recipe was passed down from a dear friend named Sue.
What is the best way to serve this soda bread?
It is best enjoyed warm with generous pats of butter melting into the crevices.
What dishes pair well with this bread?
This bread serves as an ideal accompaniment to hearty soups and stews.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
How should I prepare the baking sheet?
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.
What are the dry ingredients used in this recipe?
The dry ingredients are all-purpose flour, fine sea salt, and baking soda.
How do I incorporate the butter into the flour?
Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut chilled butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs.
What is the secret to the bread's texture?
Using chilled butter and being careful not to overmix the dough ensures a tender interior.
What wet ingredients are mixed together?
The wet mixture consists of buttermilk, liquid honey, and Irish whiskey.
How should I add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients?
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients all at once and gently stir with a wooden spoon or spatula.
How long should I knead the dough?
Knead the dough gently on a floured surface for about 1 minute, just enough to bring it together.
How many loaves does this recipe make?
This recipe makes two round loaves.
How deep should I score the cross on top of the loaves?
Using a floured knife, score a cross approximately 1/2 inch deep on top of each loaf.
What is the glaze made of?
The glaze is a mixture of additional Irish whiskey and milk.
How long does the bread take to bake?
Bake the loaves in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes.
How can I tell when the soda bread is done?
The loaves are done when they sound hollow when tapped on the bottom and are golden brown.
How much flour is required?
The recipe requires 4 cups of all-purpose, sifted flour.
How much whiskey is needed for the dough?
The dough requires 1/4 cup of Irish whiskey.
What kind of honey should I use?
The recipe calls for 1/4 cup of liquid honey.
Can I use any type of salt?
Fine sea salt is recommended for this recipe.
Is this a yeast-based bread?
No, this is a soda bread which uses baking soda as the leavening agent.
What type of milk is used for the glaze?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of regular milk combined with whiskey for the glaze.
Why is it called soda bread?
It is called soda bread because it uses baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) instead of yeast to rise.
Should the butter be melted?
No, the butter should be chilled and cut into small cubes to create the correct texture.
What is the purpose of the cross on top?
Scoring a cross helps the bread expand during baking and is a traditional Irish bread marking.
Can I make this bread for a gathering?
Yes, its ease of preparation and delicious flavor make it perfect for sharing at gatherings.
Is the bread very sweet?
It has a perfect balance of sweetness from the honey, but remains savory enough to pair with stews.
How should I cool the bread?
Once removed from the oven, let the loaves cool on a wire rack.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 8 main ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, butter, buttermilk, honey, Irish whiskey, and milk.