Irish soda bread muffins (Print Version)

Lightly sweet soda bread muffins with raisins and caraway seeds, ideal for breakfast or tea.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon caraway seeds

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 1 cup buttermilk
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
09 - 1 large egg

→ Add-ins

10 - 3/4 cup raisins or currants

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and caraway seeds until thoroughly blended.
03 - In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, and egg until smooth and uniform.
04 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined—stop as soon as the flour disappears. Do not overmix.
05 - Gently fold the raisins or currants into the batter until evenly distributed.
06 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately three-quarters full.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
08 - Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The muffin form means you get all the crusty edges and tender centers without slicing or toasting
  • They come together in under 15 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • The caraway adds this subtle earthy warmth that makes every bite feel cozy
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter makes these tough and dense. Stop as soon as the flour disappears.
  • The baking soda needs fresh buttermilk to work properly. If your buttermilk has been in the fridge forever, buy fresh.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and create better texture
  • If you don't have buttermilk, mix 1 cup milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes

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