St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, so I made you these mini loaves of maple Irish soda bread to celebrate! Tender, perfectly maple-y Irish soda bread chock full of juicy (and optionally bourbon-flavored) raisins, all dusted with sugar. This bread will have you celebrating St. Patrick on the 17th of every month – I just know it.
These babies also just so happen to be shamrock-shaped. How cute can ya get?!
This maple Irish soda bread is my second Recipe Remix recipe (the first being these baked black and white cookie donuts). I whipped these guys up last year when my blog was still a baby blog, and have been waiting pretty impatiently to recreate them again this year. I will take any and all excuses to snack on cute, seasonal mini bread loaves. Especially ones that taste like these! The little bit of maple extract in the dough transforms standard Irish soda bread into something out of this world! And bourbon-soaked raisins? Bursting with flavor, for real. Warm from the oven or at room temperature, these loaves don’t even need butter (…though who would complain about extra butter?).
I made these this time around one weekend afternoon when it was just me and Mr. Tug hanging around the apartment, and honestly thought I wouldn’t have enough mini loaves left to take pictures of after my snack attack was through. Tug has quite an astute sniffer, and he was going CRAZY as these were baking. He’ll sit in front of the microwave if food is cooking, stick his nose in the air and sniiiiiff sniff sniff. He sat a few feet away from the oven and did the same thing with these, and I spent the fifteen minutes or so they were baking alternating between texting family + friends about how cute he is and sitting next to him doing the same thing. I think we were meant to be mama + dog. 🙂
Thankfully all pictures were taken and we got the let’s-inhale-this-heavenly-aroma crazies out of our systems before Brian got back from playing soccer, because the rest of the batch bit the dust soon after. I bet they’ll disappear just as quickly in your house, too!
You can check out last year’s post about these pretties here if you’re curious! I still have a bordering on unhealthy obsession with maple extract, I’m still 0% Irish, and I still love me a good theme. ♥
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus approx. 1/4 cup for rolling out dough
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tbsp, divided
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 5 tbsp butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 tsp maple extract
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp bourbon (or hot water)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- In a cup or bowl, add raisins, bourbon or water, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Stir to dissolve brown sugar. Let raisins sit while you prepare the dough (about 15 minutes), making sure that all raisins are submerged.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together 2 cups of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the egg, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp of brown sugar, buttermilk, butter, maple extract, and vanilla extract.
- Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined and dough is cohesive. Drain the liquid from the raisins and stir in.
- Turn out dough onto a floured surface and sprinkle flour over top of dough. Work in flour as you see fit to ease some of the stickiness. Repeat until dough is fully workable and doesn't stick to your fingers, but stop before it becomes too dried out and cracked. With floured hands, press dough into a rectangular shape, about 1 1/2" tall.
- With a floured cookie cutter, cut shapes and place all onto greased baking sheet about 1 1/2" apart. Rework dough scraps until all is used. Sprinkle remaining 2 tbsp of granulated sugar over top of loaves and lightly press to adhere.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until bottoms and edges are lightly browned and tops are firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and let loaves cool completely.
If you don't have buttermilk on hand, add 2/3 tbsp of white vinegar to 2/3 cup milk and let sit for a few minutes before adding to recipe.
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE these!! Totally adorable to cut them into shamrocks! And I love that you added the maple… sounds awesome! 🙂
Thanks Jess! 🙂
How cute and fun!! These look amazingly delicious not to mention the fact that they are totally adorable! Great recipe! 🙂 Love it!!
Thanks Cailee! I’m a sucker for holiday-inspired treats…I had to make these shamrock-shaped! 🙂
Super cute tiny breads. 🙂 I haven’t tried Irish Soda bread before, thinking I better change that. Far out, I can’t believe we are already thinking St Patricks day. It was only Christmas yesterday. 2015 is zooming. Hope you are well and enjoying your weekend.
Hey Anna! Thank you. 🙂 I only seem to eat Irish soda bread around St. Patrick’s Day because that’s when you’ll see it made, but I’m not sure why it’s not a year round thing. It’s delicious! And YES yes yes, I agree. Where is the year going?? Hope your week is off to a great start!
Oh my goodness, can we get more cute here? I think not! Soda bread in fun shapes, now that is something I can get on board with, always. Great job Alyssa!
Haha fun shapes are what it’s all about Mary Frances! The more festive the better. 🙂 Thanks!
I absolutely love soda bread – this looks amazing, Alyssa! Those shamrocks are way too cute! 😀
Thanks Jess! 🙂
Okay! These are just about the cutest things I’ve ever seen! I’ve never made Irish Soda Bread, and now I will! Thank you!
Thank you Annie! I could eat this Irish soda bread all year long. 🙂
Oooh, your little doggie sounds cuuute! And so do these shamrocks. Amazing idea to add the bourbon!
Happy (early) St. Patrick’s Day!
Thanks Helen! He makes me laugh all the time! Happy (early) St. Patrick’s Day to you, too! 🙂
how CUTE are these?!?! love the shamrock shapes AND that you added in maple extract, what an awesome recipe girrrrl!
Thanks Christine!! 🙂
These are the cutest things, Alyssa — I love that they’re shamrock shaped! I’m 0% Irish as well, but that doesn’t stop me from making an Irish-themed feast every year, including soda bread. The maple flavor sounds delicious, too! 🙂
Haha we usually eat a full-blown Irish feast too. And I need to make your soda bread! I think March will be my month of soda bread. 🙂
What a cute shape! Perfect for St. Patty’s day! The maple sounds like a great touch!
I love the little bit of maple here – it makes a big difference! Thanks Kathy!
So cute! I love irish soda bread, adding maple extract sounds really good.
Thanks Kathy!
These are so cute! I’ve never made Irish soda bread before but I do love to stuff my face with it. 😉
Hahaha I was like that too up until last year. Now I want to make it year round!
These are so cute! I love the shape! I still have yet to make soda bread at home … it’s madness I tell you.
Oh and I totally love maple extract too – so good!
Thanks Ashley! And we’re coming up on March…it’s the perfect time!
What a cute St. Patrick’s Day treat! I love that you made them into little shamrocks too, such a cute idea. Pinned!
Thanks Danielle! 🙂
How cute are these little baby breads! I love how festive they are! I have never tried Irish Soda bread, but maybe I should! These are perfect for St. Patrick’s day! Pinned!
Thanks Annie! I bet you’d love Irish soda bread. Really good! 🙂
Ok Alyssa, these are just too cute! What a great bread side dish for St Patrick’s day! And Tug sounds like the sweetest little guy ever. Isn’t having a dog the best?!
Thanks girl! And Tug is such a mush and a half, he cracks me up! Love, love, love having a dog! 🙂
What a cute idea for St. Patrick’s Day! And, I love that you shaped them into shamrocks! Such a great idea! Pinned!
Thanks Kristi! The more ‘festive’ the better in my eyes! 🙂