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5 from 5 votes

Cheddar Irish Soda Bread

A cheddar Irish soda bread made with fresh chives, and a hint of freshly cracked pepper!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Main Course
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 8 slices (1 loaf)
Calories: 416kcal
Author: Heather Perine

Ingredients

  • 4 cups (480 grams) all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick, 113 g) unsalted butter softened, cut into tablespoons
  • 1 cup (240 mL) buttermilk room temperature
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese plus more for sprinkling on top
  • 1-2 Tablespoons chopped chives

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 375oF degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Or you can bake this in a 10- inch cast iron skillet (which will cause the bread to spread less.) Or an 8 or 9 inch cake pan would also work.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, pepper and salt. Stir to combine. Add in the butter and stir to combine. Add the buttermilk and egg and stir to combine.
  • Add in the cheddar cheese and chives. You may need to stir this in by hand with a spatula.
  • Turn the dough onto your cookie sheet and shape into a ball. Pat down slightly into about a 8-9 inch circle. Sprinkle on more cheese. Using a serrated knife, cut an "X" across the top of the bread. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature of 190oF. Cool on a cooling rack.

Notes

  • Tools: Stand Mixer | Spatula | Cookie Sheet | Silicone baking mat 
  • Storage: Irish soda bread can dry out quickly. So unless you are eating right away (which is what I recommend! With a bit of butter) then you want to wrap it up in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will stay fresh this way for 3-4 days. The bread can also be frozen for 2-3 months.
  • Sweet/classic version: If a want a sweeter, more classic version then try this traditional Irish soda bread recipe instead.
  • Buttermilk substitution: You can make a DIY buttermilk that will work for this bread.
  • Whole wheat flour substitution:  I always recommend substituting only 1/2 of the AP flour for whole wheat flour for best texture. I have made a whole wheat version of this bread to make a bit heartier. You can check out the Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread Recipe.
  • Cheese substitution: Try another hard cheese, such as swiss or parmesan.
  • Chives substitution: Try adding a different herb such as rosemary, dill, or thyme instead. 
  • Want to improve your baking skills? If you want to become a better baker, then enroll in my Ultimate Baking Bootcamp class! Enroll here!

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 414mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 596IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 3mg