Take the basic recipe for soda bread and create something a little bit different

The Irish soda bread recipes on this page add something a little extra to the basic Irish soda bread recipe.

Soda bread, together with potatoes, were the mainstays of the traditional Irish diet, but both would be prepared a little differently for a special occasion. Halloween was the time for Apple Bread, while Currant Bread would probably provide some additional fruit at other times of the year.

Soda farls don't contain anything extra to the basic recipe; the difference comes simply in the way the dough is cooked.

Currant Soda Bread

Ingredients:

1 quantity of soda bread dough (see box to the right)
170g (6oz) currants or mixture of dried fruit

Method:

Add the fruit to the dough before kneading into a shape.

Shape the dough into a round 5cm (2inches) deep.

Place on a floured baking tray and bake at 230C/450F/gas8 for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 200C/400F/Gas6 for a further 20-30 minutes.

Apple Bread

Ingredients:

1 quantity of soda bread dough (see box above right)
450g (1lb) of stewed apples, sweetened as you prefer

Method:

Using half the dough, shape with your hands into a round, as if preparing the basic loaf, then use a roller to flatten it to half an inch thick.

Place stewed apple mixture on top of this dough, leaving a 2cm (one inch) apple-free edge all the way round. Moisten the edges with a little milk.

Taking the remaining half of the dough, make an identical round and place it over the apple, pressing the edges together as you go.

Place on a floured baking tray and bake at (200C/400F/Gas6) for 45-50 minutes.

Soda Farls

Ingredients:

1 quantity of soda bread dough (see box above right)

Method:

Roll dough to just over 1cm (half an inch) thick. Cut into four quarters (farls).

Cook each farl on a griddle for 10 minutes on each side or until they sound hollow when tapped.

To serve, split the farl and be lavish with good country butter. Eat immediately.

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