Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

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From Irish Soda Bread to Irish Scones, Ireland has so much amazing food to offer that I hope you're eager to try all of my Best Irish Recipes, easily located here in one place!

By Gemma Stafford | | 25

Last updated on January 20, 2021

Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (1)

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Hi Bold Bakers!

For obvious reasons, Saint Patrick’s Day is near and dear to my heart. Not only do I have fond memories of going to the parade in Ireland but also of the traditional food we would have around this time. Today, I’m excited to share my Best Irish Recipes!

Baking In Ireland

Ireland is known for the amazing produce we have available to us. Although the rain can seem like a curse at times, it is a blessing for animals to graze on such lush green grass. This, in turn, makes the animals very happy, and happy animals mean delicious butter, cheese, and meat.

I consider myself lucky to have grown up in Ireland. I am an eighties baby so luckily when I was young there were no iPads and iPhones to be glued to. With 4 other siblings, we spent our days outside in fields, making huts, horse riding, and so on. They were pretty innocent times that we were fortunate to have.

Being from a large family also meant my mum cooked a lot. She is an amazing cook. My dad wasn’t one for leftovers so my mum would make new dinners every single night. She never did things by halves either. The same care and attention are still put into every meal today as she did back then.

As a young child, I followed my mum around the kitchen watching while she baked. Some of my earliest memories are actually food memories. She always had us help out in the kitchen. We did jobs that little hands were good at like standing at the mixer as egg whites whipped for pavlova, slowly adding in spoonful after spoonful of sugar as instructed. She had us down on the kitchen floor with a rolling pin and digestive biscuits in a bag bashing them until you got crumbs. Food is a big part of my culture and I use the same traditions and techniques I have carried with me to this day.

My Best Irish Recipes

1. Best-Ever Irish Scones

Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2)

Let’s face it, anything served with butter, jam, and cream is going to be delicious. Enjoy my Best-Ever Scones recipe!

2. Irish Soda Bread (and White Version)

A whole-wheat bread that will be eaten just as fast as it was to whip up. Make my Irish Soda Bread today — and try my White Soda Bread version while you’re at it.

3. Perfected Millionaire’s Shortbread

A dessert my Mum used to make when I was a kid, with layers of shortbread, caramel, and delicious milk chocolate. My Millionaire’s Shortbread, also known as Caramel Squares, has been perfected!

4. My Mum’s Irish Apple Cake

Another one of my Mum’s recipes that uses apples better than almost any other dessert! This one is also a fan favorite — make My Mum’s Irish Apple Cake!

5. Waterford Blaas

Technically you can’t get a Waterford Blaas roll outside of Waterford in Ireland, but my mum’s rolls recipe is as close as you’ll ever get without visiting!

6. Irish Flapjacks

Homemade Oatmeal Bars that will transport you back to your childhood, if you grew up in Ireland.

7. Irish Bread and Butter Pudding

Serious comfort food, this dessert is perfect for a cold Winter’s night. Try my .

8. Barmbrack

Classically made closer to Halloween, this fruitcake-like recipe is filled with gorgeous flavors that can really be made all year round. Make my Traditional Irish Barmbrack.

9. Banoffee Pie

If you love bananas and caramel, you have to try this Banoffee Pie that I grew up with.

10. 5-Minute Irish Brown Bread

It takes no time at all to make this quick and rustic Irish Brown Bread!

11. Irish Shortbread

Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (12)

A recipe straight from my Bigger Bolder Baking cookbook, which you can buy for over 100+ more desserts!

12. Irish Apple Crumble

Another wonderful recipe I’ve made with my Mum for years, my Irish Apple Crumble!

13. Bailey’s Chocolate Pudding

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Enjoy my Bailey’s Chocolate Pudding recipe, a rich chocolatey dessert with a touch of Irish for Saint Patrick’s Day or any time of year.

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (20)

Charu Gohel

3 years ago

Gemma you look so similar to your mom.

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (21)

Sophia sofia

3 years ago

Hi Gemma,
Thanks for having all your Irish recipes in one place .. I have tried 3 of these and they were perfect : your mum’s Apple cake the Irish soda bread and the banoffe pie. I’m looking forward to see your video today.

Ps. Send my greetings to Kevin, baby George ,waffles and the bbb team . Have a great day !!

Sofia

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (22)

Marilyn Daugherty

3 years ago

We had an Irish restaurant in town for a few years and they made these rolls made with potato water. They were tasty. Do you have anything like this in your repertoire? Thanks so much. We, I for one, feel like part of your family. Love everything you do. Marilyn O’Daugherty (but hubbie’s fam dropped the O long time ago). I like it.

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (23)

Karen Smith

3 years ago

Gemma, do you ever make pasties? Our local pub has one with ham, mushroom, chicken and bechamel that I just love. I would really like to know how to make them if that is one of your dishes.
Thanks!

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (24)

Sharon Foley

3 years ago

Love your recipes!

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (25)

Margaret Lawson

3 years ago

Oh Gemma there is such a lot to choose from, but i will have a go. Thank you for all those recipes. Youre an amazing baker. ❤️

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (26)

Kiana

11 months ago

Good Morning Gemma! I will be visiting Dublin I am so glad you have shared so many Irish recipes as I am looking so forward to trying the many goodies and of course the sites! Thank you for all that you do and share and I have made several of your recipes. All have been tremendously enjoyed!!

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (27)

June Dempsey

11 months ago

Gemma have you got a recipe for Irish treacle bread please, it’s my husbands favourite but I can’t find a recipe xx

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (28)

Gary Jonathan

3 years ago

Hi Gemma. I want to try some of these. My wife is Northern Irish from Belfast so the food she grew up with might be little different from what you did xxxx

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hellono

3 years ago

Looks nice!

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About Us

Meet Gemma

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About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

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Gemma's Best Irish Recipes - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

FAQs

What is soda bread Irish? ›

Irish soda bread is a crumbly, tangy, scone-like quick bread made with flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. The acidity of buttermilk interacts with the alkaline properties of baking soda to create the bread's leavening without the use of yeast.

Should you use frozen butter for scones? ›

Personally, I want a lofty, tender wedge that's jam-packed with fruit, like in this blueberry scone recipe. And there's no better way to achieve that kind of height and texture on a scone than using frozen, grated butter. The technique really is as simple as it sounds.

Where is bigger bolder baking from? ›

Gemma Stafford is an Irish-born chef, best-selling cookbook author, and host of the hit online baking show Bigger Bolder Baking. Gemma helps anyone bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with her chef-tested recipes and techniques that take the fear out of baking.

What is the history of Irish scones? ›

Irish scones are particularly popular in Ireland. Made from raisins, this cake actually originated in Scotland, but has literally been adopted by the Irish (and English) for centuries! Since then, Ireland has come up with its own variation, and believe it or not, it's a national culinary treasure!

Is there a difference between soda bread and Irish soda bread? ›

Sweeter Soda Bread

On this side of the Atlantic, what we call "Irish soda bread" is more rich and sweet, usually studded with raisins and caraway seeds. These cakey, scone-like loaves often include eggs and butter for tenderness and more flavor.

What do Irish people eat with soda bread? ›

Irish Pub Fare: Pair the soda bread with classic pub fare such as shepherd's pie or bangers and mash. The hearty nature of the bread definitely belongs in the same 'comfort food' family as these dishes. Corned Beef and Cabbage: This bread is perfect alongside a traditional St.

What to avoid when making scones? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
  1. Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
  2. Only using all-purpose flour. ...
  3. Overmixing the dough. ...
  4. Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
  5. Baking them ahead of time.
May 1, 2019

What type of flour is best for scones? ›

Use all-purpose flour for a higher rising scone that holds its shape nicely, both in and out of the oven. To make more delicate, lower-rising, cake-like scones, substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour. Reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1 to 2 tablespoons, using just enough to bring the dough together.

Where does Gemma Stafford live? ›

Now I live in sunny Los Angeles, California where I host and produce a baking show 'Gemma's Bigger Bolder Baking' for the digital space, specializing in over the top bold creations with Irish flair.

Where in Ireland is Gemma Stafford from? ›

Gemma Stafford is originally from Wexford but moved to the US to work in restaurants and is now the host of online cooking show Bigger Bolder Baking.

How do Irish people pronounce scone? ›

According to the survey, afternoon teas in Scotland and Ulster would include scones as in “gone” while folks further south in England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland would be ordering scones in “bone”.

Are scones Scottish or Irish? ›

Scones are traditionally Irish, Scottish, and English foods. However, nobody knows which of these countries invented the baked food. As far as history can trace back, Scones probably originate from Scotland. Yes, the first print reference dates back to 1513 and is from a Scottish poet.

What is special about Irish soda bread? ›

Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread that does not require any yeast. Instead, all of its leavening comes from baking soda and buttermilk. This Irish soda bread recipe is my grandmother's and has been cherished in my family for years. It's dense, yet soft and has the most incredible crusty exterior.

What is Irish soda bread made of? ›

The essential ingredients in traditional Irish soda bread are flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. The acid in buttermilk reacts with the base of the baking soda to provide the bread's leavening. This leavening from buttermilk and baking soda is what gives the bread its name: "soda bread."

What does Irish soda bread taste like? ›

Irish soda bread is a dense and tender quick bread with a subtle tangy buttermilk flavor.

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