Irish soda bread scones (Printable)
Lightly sweet scones with crisp crust and tender crumb, inspired by traditional Irish soda bread.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup whole wheat flour
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
07 - 1/2 cup currants or raisins (optional)
→ Wet Ingredients
08 - 1 1/4 cups cold buttermilk
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in currants or raisins if using.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, and melted butter until well combined.
04 - Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Stir gently with a fork or spatula until just combined; do not overmix—the dough will be shaggy.
05 - Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat into a circle about 1 inch thick.
06 - Cut into 8 wedges and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing scones slightly apart.
07 - Optionally, brush tops with a little extra buttermilk for shine.
08 - Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until scones are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 - Cool slightly before serving warm with butter and jam.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- These scones come together in under 40 minutes from start to finish, perfect for unexpected guests or sudden cravings
- The whole wheat flour adds nutty depth while keeping the crumb tender, not dense like some soda breads can be
02 -
- Overmixing develops gluten and makes these tough and chewy instead of tender, stop as soon as the flour streaks disappear
- The dough should feel sticky and shaggy, if you keep adding flour to make it smooth you will end up with hockey pucks
03 -
- Cold buttermilk and melted butter that is only slightly cooled helps maintain the right dough temperature for proper rise
- Brushing the tops with extra buttermilk before baking creates a beautiful golden sheen and slightly crispier crust