Irish baking recipes feel like wrapping yourself in a comfy wool sweater and settling in with a dram of whiskey. Get our favorite recipes for soda bread, scones, rhubarb crisps and more.
23 Irish Baking Recipes Cozier Than the Corner Pub
Classic Irish Soda Bread
This traditional Irish soda bread can be made with an assortment of mix-ins such as dried fruit and nuts, but I like it with a handful of raisins. Don’t forget to top your slice with Irish butter! —Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Also, follow along to discover these traditional Irish foods, one dish at a time, which you’ll fall in love with.
1/23
2/23
Strawberries ‘n’ Cream Scones
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 scones
From the Recipe Creator:
Scones are one of my must-bake Irish baking recipes. My favorite way to make them is adding seasonal fruits like strawberries in late spring. If you are like me, you won’t be able to eat just one! —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
3/23
Rhubarb Crumble
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
To tell you the truth, I’m not sure how well my strawberry rhubarb crumble keeps—we usually eat it all in a day! You can skip the apples and strawberries in the recipe, which I do sometimes. But they do make this quick, easy dessert extra good. For a truly Irish finish, serve with custard! —Linda Enslen, Schuler, Alberta
4/23
Chocolate Mincemeat Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
What would the holidays be without mincemeat for dessert? This chocolate version of one of my favorite Irish baking recipes is a must during the Christmas season. —Darlene Berndt, South Bend, Indiana
5/23
Two-Berry Pavlova
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a light and airy dessert that I first tried in Ireland. When I got home, I made this berry pavlova for my kids, who loved to build their own with their favorite fruits. The whipped cream makes for icing on the cake! —Norma Stevenson, Eagan, Minnesota
6/23
Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. Don’t forget: The secret to better shortbread is chilling the dough. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
7/23
Apple Raisin Bread
Total Time
55 min
Servings
3 loaves (16 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been making this bread for many years. It smells so good in the oven and tastes even better. I make bread almost every Saturday, and it doesn't stay around long with our sons home from college in the summer. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington
8/23
Chocolate Guinness Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Of course, Guinness has a place in Irish baking! One bite and everyone will propose a toast to this silky-smooth chocolate Guinness cake. The cream cheese frosting reminds me of the foamy head on a perfectly poured pint. —Marjorie Hennig, Seymour, Indiana
Irish Brown Bread
A staple in almost every Irish kitchen, this carb lover’s dream has a crumbly outer crust, dense center and a unique flavor that makes it a one-of-a-kind. Best of all, even novice bakers can whip up a loaf in a snap.
9/23
10/23
Butterscotch Apple Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves old-fashioned Irish baking recipes, especially this easy apple cake. I make it all fall long. —Beth Struble, Bryan, Ohio
11/23
Fruit Cake
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my own fruitcake recipe, and it's a family favorite. I think it has just the right mix of nuts and fruit. —Allene Spence, Delbarton, West Virginia
12/23
Homemade Irish Soda Bread
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
Some people consider bread to be the most important part of a meal…and this Irish bread satisfies such folks! This recipe is by far the best soda bread I’ve ever tried. With the addition of raisins, it is moist and delicious! —Evelyn Kenney, Trenton, New Jersey
13/23
Rhubarb Scones
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 scones
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandfather grows rhubarb and gives us a generous supply. The tartness is similar to a cranberry—perfect for tossing into a scone. —Danielle Lee, Sewickley, Pennsylvania
14/23
Bread Pudding with Nutmeg
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I always make this bread pudding recipe for my dad on his birthday and holidays. He says it tastes exactly like the bread pudding he enjoyed as a child. —Donna Powell, Montgomery City, Missouri
15/23
Date Pecan Tea Bread
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces) and 1/2 cup spread
From the Recipe Creator:
Packed with dates and pecans, this sweet bread is excellent on its own and even better topped with the chunky cream cheese spread. We enjoy it during the holiday season, but also for after-school and late-night snacks. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
16/23
Potato Rolls
Total Time
40 min
Servings
45 rolls
From the Recipe Creator:
After I discovered this recipe, it became a mainstay for me. I make the dough ahead of time when company is coming, and I try to keep some in the refrigerator to bake for our ranch hands. Leftover mashed potatoes are almost sure to go into these rolls. —Jeanette McKinney, Belleview, Missouri
17/23
Cherry-Chip Oat Scones
Total Time
35 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves scones and anything with oatmeal. I started with my basic scone recipe and added oat flour to increase the oat taste and texture, then included special ingredients you can find in every bite. Look for add-ins that harmonize with the mellow flavor of oats. —Amy Brnger, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
18/23
Braided Onion-Potato Loaf
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
Ever wonder why a bread recipe includes mashed potatoes? The potato's starchy quality absorbs liquid during the kneading stage, and it holds onto that liquid during baking. The bread finishes with a crisp, brown exterior crust and a flavorful, moist interior that helps the bread keep longer. —Joan Ranzini, Waynesboro, Virginia
19/23
Tiny Tim’s Plum Pudding
Total Time
2 hours 30 min
Servings
12 servings (1-1/2 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
Steamed puddings are popular British and Irish baking recipes. Our family has made this pudding our own tradition, and it really is something to clap for. —Ruthanne Karel, Hudsonville, Michigan
Banoffee Pie
If you’re looking for a dessert that’s tasty enough to make you Star Baker, look no further. This banoffee pie recipe is a classic Great British dessert that hails from a pub in the 1970s. It’s named for the flavor combination of bananas and toffee. —Risa Lichtman, Portland, Oregon
20/23
21/23
Honey Gingerbread Trifle
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband’s grandma made the most amazing honey gingerbread. It’s wonderful all on its own, but when you add it to a trifle, your guests are sure to ask for the recipe. Trifles like these are popular all over the UK and are one of my favorite Irish baking recipes. —Tami Kuehl, Loup City, Nebraska
22/23
Favorite Irish Soda Bread
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
1 loaf (12 wedges)
From the Recipe Creator:
My best friend, Rita, shared this irresistible Irish soda bread recipe. It bakes up high, with a golden brown top and a combination of sweet and savory flavors. —Jan Alfano, Prescott, Arizona
23/23
Rawhide’s Whiskey Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
For several years, our neighbor gave us a moist, whiskey-flavored cake. I’ve tweaked the recipe, and now my friends want this cake instead of platters of homemade cookies. Fair warning: This cake takes three days to make, but it is very easy to prepare. —Cindy Worth, Lapwai, Idaho
