Irish Soda Bread Scones

These Irish soda bread scones resemble traditional Irish soda bread, but in scone form. They’re buttery, studded with raisins, lightly sweet, and lightly salty. No rise time required—both the airy texture and the name come from baking soda, which reacts with acidic buttermilk to create air bubbles. Serve warm or at room temperature with butter, jam, or clotted cream.

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

20 mins

Additional Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr

Servings:

8

Yield:

8 scones

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces
• ½ cup raisins or dried currants
• ½ teaspoon grated orange zest
• ¾ cup plus 3 tablespoons cold whole buttermilk, divided

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.
2. Whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and 1/4 cup sugar in a large bowl until combined.
3. Cut butter into flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until dough resembles coarse meal. 
4. Add raisins, orange zest, and 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk; stir until just combined.
5. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface; pat dough into a 7-inch circle, about 3/4-inch thick. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
6. Using a floured bench scraper or knife, cut dough circle into 8 wedges; place wedges on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Alternatively, scoop 8 (1/3-cup) mounds of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Brush each scone evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons buttermilk, and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Place baking sheet in freezer, and freeze until chilled, about 30 minutes. 
7. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
8. Bake scones in the preheated oven until bottoms and tops are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool completely on the baking sheet, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with butter and jam, if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)