For as long as I can remember, my mother has made Irish soda bread every year in the days leading up to St. Patricks Day. She stands in the kitchen, digging her hands into the dough, baking loaf upon loaf for friends and family and, of course, she keeps a few at home. But no matter how many loaves she bakes, she always takes time to follow precisely the recipe she received from my great-aunt, Helen: Once she wrestles the sticky dough into a pan, my mother uses a knife to cut a cross into the top and then pauses, as my Aunt Helen did before her, to say a short prayer, blessing the bread, those who eat it, and for special intentions that day. RELATED STORIES
While the ingredient of prayer is my aunts special touch, cutting a cross into the top of a loaf of Irish soda bread before placing it in the oven isnt unique to our family. The tradition actually serves a two-fold purpose, according to an interview with Rory OConnell, an Irish chef and expert on Irish cuisine and food history, on the Today Show website:
OConnell also points out that the raisin-laden version of Irish soda bread most Irish-Americans are used to is unfamiliar to most Irish. But that doesnt mean it isnt delicious. In my (completely unbiased) opinion, Aunt Helens Irish soda bread is the best Ive ever tasted. My family enjoys it toasted and topped with butter, but its just as good plain. For those who might want to try their hand at it, I include the recipe below:
Ingredients 3 ½ cups of flour ¾ cup of sugar 3 tsps. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt ¼ cup of butter – melted 1 pint of sour cream 1 cup or more of raisins 1 egg – beaten
Directions Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Mix in melted butter by hand. Add raisins and mix again, by hand. Add beaten egg and sour cream. Mix thoroughly by hand. Put in greased and floured 9” round layer-cake pan. Cut a cross in it. Say a prayer. Bake for 55 minutes at 375 degrees. Insert a knife into the center of the bread to test if it is done. If it is cooked all the way through, the knife should come out clean. Remove loaf from pan. Cool and enjoy.
The Southern Irish regions bake their loaves in a classic round fashion and cut a cross on top of the bread. This was done for superstitious reasons, as families believed a cross on top of the bread would let the fairies out or ward off evil and protect the household.
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2 CUPS UNSIFTED ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 2 CUPS WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR 4 TABLESPOONS SUGAR 4 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER 1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA 1 TEASPOON SALT 6 TABLESPOONS BUTTER SOFTENED 2 CUPS BUTTERMILK
Even though IL Fiorello is Italian and makes olive oil, part of my family, on my Mother’s side is Irish, through and through.
Use the traditional three leaf clover for St. Patrick’s day. It represents the holy trinity and the number three is special in Ireland. Number “3” is also present on other Celtic Symbols such as the “Triskelion”, the “Triquetra” , The “Three Rays” of the Druidic Symbol, This symbol a triad or trinity. It is a symbol of the unity of body, mind and spirit.
I was always told that the cross on the top of Irish Soda Bread was to symbolize the Catholic faith of Ireland, and the Gaelic Cross. Some say it kept the Devil out, but that is what a cross is supposed to do also.
The shape and the content of the soda bread, is indicative of where you live in Ireland. Also whether you bake or pan fry the bread. I have always baked my soda bread, but maybe it is time to try to fry the bread. My Italian father (and me) loved fried yeast bread, but that will be another delicious blog. The difference of white bread vs brown bread may have had to do with affluence, brown being the coarser bread, and white being the more refined. I bake with half and half, white and brown flour. I have heard that the foam on top of your pint of beer is an excellent leavening agent because of the yeast and sugars in the beer. I truly would rather drink my beer and use baking soda, for the bread, but again maybe it is time to try something new. There is a new web site, www.TheSocietyofthePreservationofIrishSodaBread.com that is kind of a fun read.
Irish Soda Bread from 1836
FAQ
Why do you put a cross on soda bread?
Why do people cross bread?
What is the tradition behind Irish soda bread?
Why is soda bread different to normal bread?
Why is there a cross on soda bread?
The cross on the soda bread has several explanations, Legend has it that folks did it to “let the devil out” while it’s baking, and others say that it made it easy to divide into 4 pieces. It was also a symbol for a cross during Christian holidays. This recipe has the addition of butter, eggs, raisins and candied fruit.
Why do I get muscle cramps after eating breads?
For those individuals with Gluten sensitivity, inflammation may result in widespread pain or cramps after consuming gluten containing diet. Gluten diet usually includes wheat, barley, maize, etc. Other symptoms include tiredness, bloating, leg numbness and stomach aches.
Why do people eat soda bread?
It’s also a symbol of celebration, baked in droves in the lead up to Saint Patrick’s Day. However, the humble soda bread began as an affordable necessity and was the solution to many food problems facing Ireland at the time. While soda bread is most famously attributed to Ireland, it was actually first created by Native Americans.
Why does Irish soda bread have a cross?
When she asked master baker Mary Gleeson why Irish soda bread always has a cross cut into the top, it turns out the answer is a simple one. Mary said, “You have to cut a cross in the dough to let the fairies out.” Cook’s Country has a similar explanation for the cross on Irish soda bread. The source states that it’s to let the devil out.