Irish Soda Bread with Whiskey Glaze

This weekend I traded in my Italian bread and focaccia for Irish Soda Bread with Whiskey Glaze. So maybe they aren’t  exactly interchangeable… but it was darn good!

The highlights of Irish Soda Bread with Whiskey Glaze are, of course, whiskey, but also the distinct flavor of caraway seeds and fruit. The consistency is dense, but moist, and speckled with sweet fruity morsels, iced with a whiskey glaze…. an Irish sweet tooth dream.

The whiskey may be substituted with water, but you can always just us it in the actual bread and use milk or water for the glaze.

Currants and caraway seeds can also be omitted. Currants can be substituted for raisins as well. If you need another recipe to use your leftover currants, make our quick Italian Seafood Stew!

Keep in mind that this is very much and bread, versus a cake. The batter will be thick and sticky, like a bread.

Most people don’t know this but Irish soda bread history goes back to the 1800’s in Ireland. It used to be made with only 4 basic ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, and sour milk (buttermilk now days).

It used to be made pretty regularly in households and the bread looked different from each part of Ireland. Most Irish families keep the tradition going by still making the bread even today.

Also, if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t fret. Here are a couple of great substitutes for buttermilk in baking.

For each cup of buttermilk, you can use:

• 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let stand for 5 minutes.
• 1 cup of plain yogurt
• 1-3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar plus 1 cup milk

More Irish Inspired Recipes

• Leftover Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
• Irish Breakfast Potatoes
• Sugar Cookie Shamrocks

Colcannon

This Irish Colcannon recipe is an easy recipe using your favorite mashed potato recipe, a special trick for super silky cabbage, bacon and lots of creamy butter. 

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Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Frosting

Chocolate cupcakes laced with Guinness Stout Beer and topped with fluffy Irish cream Bailey's frosting. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

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Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage is the best way to prepare brisket. Fork tender meat made with a delicious spice blend and root vegetables. 

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Irish Soda Bread Recipe

4.58 from 7 votes

This Irish Soda Bread with Whiskey Glaze recipe is Irish food at its best! It consists of whiskey, caraway seeds, currants, and fresh orange juice and zest!

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 9

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Equipment

• Toothpicks
• Whisk
• Stand Mixer
• Sifter

Ingredients

Irish Soda Bread:

• 1 cup dried currants
• 1 cup whiskey
• cooking spray or vegetable shortening
• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter , melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

• Place the 1 cup dried currants in a small bowl with the 1 cup whiskey. Allow them to sit for 1 hour. Drain the currants, reserving 3 tablespoons of the whiskey in a separate bowl (it will be used for the glaze). Discard the remaining whiskey.
• Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a 9×9 square baking dish with cooking spray or lightly coat with cooking spray or vegetable shortening. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment sift together the 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda . Add the 1/2 cup sugar. 
• Combine the drained currants, 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice, 1 tablespoon orange zest1 tablespoon caraway seeds 1 1/3 cups buttermilk and melted 1/4 cup unsalted butter to the dry mixture, blending until just combined.
• Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake the bread for 45-50 minutes or until bread passes the "toothpick test" and the top is lightly browned.
• Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool. When the bread is almost cooled, start to make the glaze.
• Combine the 3 tablespoons of reserved whiskey with the 1 cup powdered sugar. In order to reach the correct drizzle-able consistency, add more powdered sugar or water to the mixture.
• Slice the bread into 2 inch x 2 inch squares and then drizzle the glaze. Drizzle in all of the nooks and crannies.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

• Currants can be substituted for raisins. 

Nutrition

Calories: 429 kcal, Carbohydrates: 70 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 17 mg, Sodium: 421 mg, Potassium: 296 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 37 g, Vitamin A: 235 IU, Vitamin C: 3.7 mg, Calcium: 86 mg, Iron: 2.6 mg

Author: Chef Jessica Anne

Calories: 429

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: irish soda bread, whiskey bread

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