Authentic 4-Ingredient Irish Bread (Printable Version)
A rustic loaf featuring four simple ingredients with a golden crust and soft center for any meal.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour.
02 - In large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - Create well in center of flour mixture. Pour buttermilk into well. Stir with wooden spoon until shaggy dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently just until dough comes together—avoid overworking. Shape into round, slightly flattened loaf approximately 2 inches thick. Place on prepared baking sheet.
05 - Cut deep X across top of loaf with sharp knife. Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
06 - Transfer loaf to wire rack. Cool minimum 30 minutes before slicing to ensure proper texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Four basic ingredients create something magical in under an hour
- The X scored on top invites butter to pool in every crevice
- Foolproof enough for beginners but impressive enough for guests
02 -
- Overworking the dough makes it tough, so handle it minimally and gently
- The X on top is not just tradition—it helps the heat penetrate the center of this dense loaf
- Room temperature ingredients help everything come together more evenly
03 -
- Your oven needs to be fully hot before the bread goes in—that initial blast of heat sets the crust
- If the bottom is browning too quickly, slide another baking sheet underneath