Irish Soda Quick Bread and Scone Mix (Makes 2 loaves)

Irish Soda Bread

Irish settlers brought this rustic classic to America. It's been described as a cross between a biscuit and a coffee cake. In Ireland, this convenient, hearty bread is served with breakfast, brunch, or tea as delectable platters for butter and preserves.

This is a royal soda bread, much different than the soda and flour concoctions we sometimes find in the recipe books. What're our secrets for great Irish soda bread? We've loaded this bread up with buttermilk and just the right combination of stone ground wheat flour and our best pastry flour. In all of our Irish bread, we slip in a little potato flour--not just for the flavor but to keep the bread moist. Potato Flour is hygroscopic--this is, it attracts moisture from the air rather than drying the bread out. The result is a delectable bread with an aroma that wafts through the kitchen and a taste and texture that is terrific.

Complete directions for both soda bread and scones are included. Butter and eggs are not included.

Editor's note:

For more authentic Irish bread, check out our Irish Potato Wheat Bread and our Irish Potato White Bread. Both of these are leavened with a combination of yeast and soda-buttermilk. They have a unique texture that is more bread-like and less scone-like. (This mix is not suitable for a bread machine.)