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

St. Patrick’s Day is full of parades, green get-ups, drinking ales at pubs with friends, and eating 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 at 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 bread loafs in March that it’s nearly impossible to keep up.

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“We can’t make enough of it,” he said of the loaves made with Jameson Irish Whiskey-soaked raisins. “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 an inherited recipe Rosenzweig fell in love with.

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

“We continued to make it after I took over for her 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 the 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, and then we serve it paired with Irish whiskey butter,” Rosenzweig said.

The Baker’s Grove also features Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake with Bailey’s Irish Cream whipped cream, shamrock sugar cookies, St. Joseph’s pastries, and Irish-flag colored macarons for the holiday.

Be sure to call ahead to check for availability. If you walk in, hopefully you have the “luck of the Irish” because these treats sell out fast.

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

Other Jersey Shore bakeries gear up for the holiday this time of year, too — some baking Irish soda bread by the hundreds.

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Abbate Bakery, Matawan

Now through St. Patrick’s Day, Abbate Bakery will be making Irish soda bread loaves regularly. If you want to ensure availability, call ahead the day before to place an order. The loaves are made with raisins, and no caraway seeds.

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

Anna Banana’s Bakery, Manahawkin

Homemade Irish soda bread loaves made for St. Patrick’s Day at Anna Banana’s Bakery in Manahawkin.

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

Go: 657 East Bay Ave., 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 you can get [with] Irish whiskey and fresh buttermilk,” according to owner Joe Urciuoli, who sells thousands of them every season. The bakery also makes homemade St. Joseph’s pastries and rye bread for the holiday.

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 back from Europe by David Burke when he worked there as a young chef. Upon buying the historic bakery, he modified Dixie Lee’s original recipe to increase volume without sacrificing flavor and texture. It’s often served with local honey from Oak Hills Farms in Holmdel.

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

Mueller’s Bakery, Bay Head

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

This bakery makes Irish soda bread all year long. “[Our Irish soda bread] is a light, Irish tea-based bread with raisins and topped with a perfect sugar crust,” said Katie Lansing, bakery manager. “We’ve been making this recipe for over 20 years and sell thousands of loaves each year.”

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

Normandie Bakery, Hazlet

This bakery has been making its Irish soda bread with raisins the same way for over 40 years. Loaves will be available 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 bread loaves a day during the St. Patrick’s Day season.

This bakery makes over a thousand loaves per day for the holiday. One patron, we are told, orders a hundred for her family! Available all year, the loaves are made with raisins in-store, or without raisins by special order. Calling ahead is recommended.

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

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: For St. Patrick’s Day, these Jersey Shore bakeries are making Irish soda bread