Irish Soda Bread Muffins (Print View)

Tender, lightly sweet muffins inspired by Irish soda bread, filled with juicy raisins.

# What You'll 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

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 1 cup buttermilk
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
08 - 1 large egg

→ Add-ins

09 - 3/4 cup raisins
10 - 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease thoroughly with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until evenly blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, and egg until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined—some small lumps should remain. Do not overmix.
05 - Gently fold in the raisins and caraway seeds if using, taking care not to overwork the batter.
06 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean and the tops are golden brown.
08 - Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm with butter and honey if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They come together in under 40 minutes from start to finish, no waiting for dough to rise
  • The texture is incredibly tender, with just the right hint of sweetness from the raisins
02 -
  • Overmixing is the enemy of tender muffins, so stop stirring the moment the flour disappears
  • The muffins are done when they're golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more easily and create a more uniform texture
  • Sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking for a bakery-style finish

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