Irish Soda Bread Muffins
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Irish Soda Bread Muffins are a delightful twist on classic Irish Soda Bread. They’re sweet, delicious, and festive for St. Patrick’s Day or any day in March!
Recipe Overview
Easy to make, these muffins are a little sweeter than traditional soda bread but equally delicious and fun!
- Recipe time: 5 minutes to prep, 18-20 minutes to bake.
- Kitchen Tools: Standard muffin tin
- Servings: 12 servings
Why I Love These Soda Bread Muffins
Come March, I’m baking Irish Soda Bread more often than you can imagine. The family loves soda bread and asks for it regularly, and I’m more than happy to comply.
Because I’m like them– I love it!
In our house, the son loves Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Raisins, the husband loves Classic Irish Soda Bread with Golden Raisins… and as a somewhat food traditionalist, my favorite is Traditional Brown Irish Soda Bread.
But now, we’re adding another treat to the mix, making them perfect for snacks and treats… and if you’re looking for a tea party recipe for a March or Irish Afternoon Tea, everyone seems to love these mini soda bread.
A bit sweeter than traditional soda bread, these muffins are truly a treat. Plus… they freeze well, too!
Happy March, happy baking… and happy St. Patrick’s Day (a little early ☘️).
Ingredients for Irish Soda Bread Muffins
Here’s a short list of what you need to make these simple soda bread muffins. The ingredient measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- All-purpose flour: I have not yet tested these using alternative flour.
- Leavening agents: baking powder and baking soda
- Sugar: I’m using granulated sugar in this recipe to sweeten them a bit more than traditional soda bread.
- Buttermilk: Here’s why I use buttermilk in soda bread, this simple ingredient helps deepen the bread’s flavor and helps it rise, especially when paired with baking soda, and helps create a fluffier crumb.
- Large egg: provides structure and binds ingredients together
- Melted butter for flavor and texture
- Dried fruit: I love to use dried raisins (both black and golden) or currants in these soda bread muffins.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread Muffins
The recipe card at the bottom of this post also provides step-by-step instructions, but here’s a quick overview of how to make these tasty treats.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly coat a standard muffin pan with cooking spray or line it with paper cups (which will also need a light spray so they won’t stick).
Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Whisk the dry ingredients and dried fruit together in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, and melted butter. Make a well in the dry ingredients and egg mixture. Mix together with a few turns of a spoon, being careful not to overmix!
Scoop batter into muffin tins
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan (I like to use a large ice cream scoop). Top with sparkling sugar or granulated sugar.
Bake the muffins
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Irish Soda Bread Muffins Questions
Yes, you can! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze them for longer storage. Thaw them at room temperature or reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
While buttermilk adds a distinct tanginess to these muffins, you can make a substitute by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before using it in the recipe.
Yes, you can experiment with different sugars like brown sugar, coconut sugar, or maple syrup. Keep in mind that this may slightly alter the flavor and texture of the muffins, but it can add a delightful twist to the recipe. Adjust the amount of sugar to your taste preferences.
Tips for Soda Bread Muffins
- Don’t overmix the batter: Be sure to mix the dry and wet ingredients until just combined. Overmixing activates the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher texture. Also, make sure your baking soda is fresh and hasn’t expired, as this can affect the rise of the muffins.
- Spray the liners: If using paper liners, be sure to lightly coat them with nonstick cooking spray so they release easily from the muffin liners.
More Irish Soda Bread Recipes to Try
Irish Soda Bread Muffins Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit like raisins or currants
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly coat a standard muffin pan with cooking spray and line with paper cups.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and dried fruit.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk and melted butter.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients quickly with a large spoon or spatula. Take care not to overmix as it could cause the muffins to be tough.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan (I like to use a large ice cream scoop). Top with sparkling sugar or granulated sugar.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let them sit in the muffin pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Serve with butter and Irish honey or jam… or simply as is!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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I’m gluten free, as great as these look I couldn’t eat them
Can’t you swap gf flour ?
Hi Pat, yes, these work with an all-purpose GF flour!