Gluten-free Irish Bread

My grandmother was a housewife in the 1930s through the 1950s. Sometime during this period, she found a recipe for Irish bread in the Boston Globe; but I’m not sure in which year she found it. However, her Irish bread was a favorite in our family.

Since having to go gluten-free, I’ve tried to make it by substituting the flour with gluten-free flour, but it just doesn’t come out right. This is a heavy, dense bread to begin with, but it was much too heavy. This year, I decided to sift the gluten-free flour to see if the bread would come out a bit lighter, and we were pleased with the results. So, if you have to avoid gluten, try this Gluten-free Irish Bread - you won't be disappointed.

What's the difference between Irish bread and Irish soda bread?

Irish bread is the broader term for bread made in Ireland that can be made with baking soda, baking powder, or yeast, as well as with additional ingredients, such as oats or whole meal flour. Irish soda bread is made with baking soda; but this Irish bread is made with baking powder.  

Gluten-free Irish Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 cups gluten-free flour, sifted

• 3 tablespoons of butter

• 1/2 cup sugar, plus 1-2 tablespoons to sprinkle on top of the bread

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 5 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 1/2 cups milk (more if needed)

• 6 ounces or 1/2 package of raisins

• Optional: 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

• Cut butter into 1-inch cubes.

• In a large mixing bowl, add flour and with a pastry cutter, blend in the butter.  To use a pastry cutter, press it down in the butter, twist, and pull back up.  Repeat until it's blended into the flour and the pieces of butter are very tiny.

  

• Add 1/2 cup of sugar, vanilla and baking powder, and mix by hand.

• Add milk and mix with a strong spoon. (It's important not to overmix the dough).

• Fold in raisins and caraway seeds, if using. 

• If batter is too dry, add a little more milk.

• Pour batter into a greased skillet or a 9-inch, round baking pan. Please note: batter will be heavy and stiff.

• Sprinkle the top with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar.

• Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out mostly clean.

Serve Irish bread with the traditional St. Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage or with a cup of tea.

Note: Although this is a gluten-free recipe, that doesn't mean that it's healthy. However, I believe it's mentally healthy to periodically enjoy something that is a family favorite.

Resource:

https://irishboston.blogspot.com/2019/06/marketing-irish-bread-in-boston-1959.html

Image:

https://www.landolakes.com/expert-advice/how-to-cut-in-butter/