Irish Soda Bread Muffins (Printable)

Tender muffins with golden raisins inspired by traditional Irish soda bread, ideal for breakfast or tea.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

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

→ Add-Ins

10 - 1 cup golden raisins
11 - 1 tablespoon orange zest (optional)

→ Topping

12 - 1 tablespoon demerara or turbinado sugar (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease each cup.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, melted butter, and egg until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix.
05 - Fold in golden raisins and orange zest, if using, until evenly distributed.
06 - Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle tops with demerara or turbinado sugar if desired.
07 - Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and tops are lightly golden.
08 - Let muffins cool in tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The muffins come together in under 20 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • That tender crumb and subtle sweetness makes them feel special enough for company but simple enough for Tuesday mornings
02 -
  • Overmixing is the enemy here, stop folding as soon as the flour streaks disappear or your muffins will be tough
  • The muffins are done when they're golden and spring back when gently pressed in the center
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more easily and help prevent overmixing
  • If your raisins seem dry, plump them in hot water for 10 minutes then pat dry before adding

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