For St. Patrick’s Day, these Jersey Shore bakeries are making Irish soda bread

deleciousfood | February 28, 2024 | Baking | No Comments

St. Patrick’s Day is full of parades, green outfits, beers in pubs with friends and meals of corned beef and cabbage.

And then there’s everyone’s favorite treat: Irish soda bread.

Traditionally made with flour, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, caraway seeds and/or raisins, this tangy bread is made in bakeries across the Shore and across America to celebrate the March 17 holiday .

Matthew Rosenzweig, the owner of Baker’s Grove in Shrewsbury, makes so many Irish soda breads in March that it’s almost impossible to keep up.

More: Here’s when and where to watch St. Patrick’s Day parades on the Jersey Shore

“We can’t do enough,” he said of the raisin-based breads soaked in Jameson Irish Whiskey. “If we did, we’d be an Irish soda bread factory.”

The limited-time confections, which are only sold from March 1 to 17, are made from a legacy recipe that Rosenzweig fell in love with.

“We’ve been open for a little over two years now, but before that I co-owned the Flaky Tart in Atlantic Highlands, and that’s where this recipe came from,” he said. “The original owner, Marie Jackson, came up with the recipe, and it’s so good I just couldn’t pass it up.

“We continued to do it after I replaced him there, and I brought the recipe here…” he added. “It’s just as popular.”

Matt Rosenzweig, pastry chef and owner of The Baker’s Grove in Shrewsbury, talks about his recipe for Irish soda bread.

The presentation of this decadent treat makes it even richer.

“When it comes out of the oven, we brush it with clarified butter for a little extra shine and flavor, then we serve it with Irish whiskey butter,” Rosenzweig said.

Baker’s Grove also offers Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake with Bailey’s Irish Cream whipped cream, shamrock sugar cookies, St. Joseph’s pastries and Irish flag macaroons for the holidays.

Pastry chef Terri Yee of Matawan brushes clarified butter onto freshly baked loaves of Irish soda bread at Baker's Grove in Shrewsbury. — Pastry chef Terri Yee of Matawan brushes clarified butter onto freshly baked loaves of Irish soda bread at Baker’s Grove in Shrewsbury.

Be sure to call ahead to check availability. If you come in, I hope you have the “luck of the Irish” because these treats sell out quickly.

Go: 524 Broad Street, Shrewsbury; 732-243-3249, thebakersgrove.com.

Other bakeries along the Jersey Shore also gear up for the holidays this time of year: Some bake Irish soda bread by the hundreds.

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Abbate Bakery, Matawan

Until St. Patrick’s Day, Abbate Bakery will be making Irish soda breads regularly. If you want to ensure availability, call the day before to place your order. The breads are made with raisins and without caraway seeds.

Go: 247 Main Street; 732-290-0290, abbatebakery.com.

Anna Banana Bakery, Manahawkin

Homemade Irish soda breads made for St. Patrick's Day at Anna Banana Bakery in Manahawkin. — Homemade Irish soda breads made for St. Patrick’s Day at Anna Banana Bakery in Manahawkin.

These homemade loaves are happily made for St. Patrick’s Day and in September for the Ocean County Irish Festival in Manahawkin Lake Park. The trap ? Owner Jessica Errico only makes 100, so call ahead to check availability. The bakery also makes Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake and Irish-themed cupcakes.

Go: 657 East Bay Avenue, Unit 4; 609-488-2323, annabananasbakerynj.com.

Big Apple Bakery, Manahawkin

Authentic Irish soda bread from Big Apple Bakery in Manahawkin.

This Irish soda bread is “as authentic as it gets (with) Irish whiskey and fresh buttermilk,” according to owner Joe Urciuoli, who sells thousands each season. The bakery also makes homemade St. Joseph’s Day pastries and rye bread for the holidays.

Go: Next to Acme: 595 East Bay Ave., unit 3324; 609-597-7802, thebigapplebakery.com.

Dixie Lee Bakery, Keansburg

Homemade Irish soda bread from Dixie Lee Bakery in Keansburg.

This Irish soda bread recipe was brought from Europe by David Burke while he was working there as a young chef. When purchasing the historic bakery, he modified Dixie Lee’s original recipe to increase volume without sacrificing flavor and texture. It is often served with local honey from Oak Hills Farms in Holmdel.

Go: 303 Main Street; 732-787-0674, dixieleebakerybydb.com.

Mueller Bakery, Bay Head

Irish soda bread is made year-round at Mueller's Bakery in Bayhead. — Irish soda bread is made year-round at Mueller’s Bakery in Bayhead.

This bakery makes Irish soda bread all year round. “(Our Irish soda bread) is a light bread made with Irish tea with raisins and topped with a perfect sugar crust,” said bakery manager Katie Lansing. “We have been making this recipe for over 20 years and sell thousands of loaves each year.”

Go: 80 Bridge Avenue; 732-892-0442, muellersbakery.com.

Normandy Bakery, Hazlet

This bakery has been making its Irish Raisin Soda Bread the same way for over 40 years. The breads will be available from March 1 to 17.

Go: 3049, route 35; 732-264-1634, facebook.com/TheNormandieBakery.

Waretown Bakery, Waretown

Waretown Bakery bakes nearly a thousand Irish soda breads a day during the St. Patrick's Day season. — Waretown Bakery bakes nearly a thousand Irish soda breads a day during the St. Patrick’s Day season.

This bakery makes over a thousand loaves a day for the holidays. One customer, we are told, orders a hundred for her family! Available all year round, the breads are made with raisins in store, or without raisins on special order. It is recommended to call in advance.

Go: 586, route 9; 609-971-9345, facebook.com/thewaretownbakery.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and enthusiastically brings her passion for food and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on the Asbury Park Press: St. Patrick’s Day: Jersey Shore bakeries serve Irish soda bread