Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

This Irish soda bread recipe makes a light and tender loaf studded with plenty of raisins that bakes to golden brown perfection. A super easy quick bread recipe that pairs well with so many different main course options!

When I’m looking for a hearty bread to go alongside a chicken stew or a slow roasted prime rib, I often turn to this simple yet satisfying Irish soda bread. It has the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (1)

Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or just any old weeknight during the cold weather months, you can often find me whipping up a loaf of Irish soda bread. I love when it bakes up with that perfect texture that just calls out for butter and jam! There’s no kneading, no yeast, no rising, and you can have fresh, hot bread on your table in no time!

Make this hearty bread to serve with favorites like braised cabbage, corned beef hash, an Irish mule or a shamrock shake.

Table of Contents

  • Irish Soda Bread Ingredients
  • How Do You Make Irish Soda Bread?
  • Tips For The Perfect Irish Soda Bread
  • Quick Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Flavor Variations
  • More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes You’ll Enjoy
  • Irish Soda Bread Video
  • Love This Recipe?
  • Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Irish Soda Bread Ingredients

To make Irish soda bread you will need flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, raisins, butter, buttermilk, an egg and cooking spray.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2)

How Do You Make Irish Soda Bread?

This Irish soda bread recipe starts with flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir these dry ingredients together with a spoon or whisk them in a large bowl. Add cubes of cold butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form. Next, stir in a healthy amount of raisins for a touch of sweetness. Finally, add buttermilk and egg and stir until a stiff dough forms. Shape the dough into a round, then set it into a pan or cast iron skillet. Score the top of the bread with a sharp knife, then bake it until it has a golden brown crust. Serve it with butter and jam or enjoy it with hearty soups or stews.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (3)

Tips For The Perfect Irish Soda Bread

  • If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own buttermilk substitution. Combine 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Let the milk sit for about 10 minutes or until the mixture looks curdled, then proceed with the recipe.
  • The dough will be sticky and soft. Use flour on your hands and on your work surface as needed to keep the dough from sticking and to form a nicely shaped loaf.
  • This traditional Irish soda bread recipe does not require any yeast. This recipe uses baking soda as a leavening agent.

Quick Tip

I use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dough. If you don’t have a pastry blender, two forks will do the job.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

How long will soda bread stay fresh?

Soda bread is best the same day you bake it, but it stays fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Freeze the bread in individual slices or as a whole loaf. I often store it in a freezer bag, or tightly wrapped plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Let the bread thaw at room temperature, then serve. You can also reheat it in a toaster, an oven or with a few seconds in a microwave to get that fresh baked taste!

What is Irish soda bread?

Soda bread is a quick bread that always contains four basic ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. Other ingredients are often added to enhance the flavor of the bread, such as sugar, butter, eggs, raisins and citrus. The bread is shaped into a loaf, then scored with an X pattern and baked until golden brown.

Why is soda bread popular in Ireland?

Soda bread originally became popular back in the days when baking soda became available for use in home kitchens. Baking soda was relatively inexpensive and had a long shelf life, so many households kept it on hand so that they could make their own bread. Furthermore, buttermilk was a very common ingredient at the time, which is why it is featured in soda bread recipes from today and from years ago.

Should Irish soda bread be served warm?

I prefer Irish soda bread served warm. It is fantastic hot out of the oven, but you can also reheat in a toaster, an oven or in a microwave.

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Irish Soda Bread Recipe (5)

Flavor Variations

  • Whole Wheat: For a whole wheat version of the bread, simply use half all purpose flour and half whole wheat flour.
  • Citrus: For citrus version of the bread, try adding a tablespoon of grated lemon zest or orange zest.
  • Savory: Try a savory soda bread by omitting the raisins and cutting the sugar to 3 tablespoons. You can even add a some chopped rosemary leaves or some caraway seeds.
  • Honey: For a sweeter bread try adding a little honey.
  • Currants: Another common alteration is to swap out the raisins for dried currants.

Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day or simply looking for an easy homemade bread recipe, this soda bread is sure to be a hit!

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Cabbage and Sausage Skillet

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Colcannon Recipe

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Fried Cabbage with Bacon

25 mins

Irish Nachos

10 mins

Irish Soda Bread Video

Love This Recipe?

Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

5 from 53 votes

Irish Soda Bread

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AuthorSara Welch

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (11)

This Irish soda bread is a light and tender loaf studded with plenty of raisins and baked to golden brown perfection. A super easy quick bread recipe that pairs well with so many different main course options!

Time

Prep Time15 minutes minutes

Cook Time45 minutes minutes

Total Time1 hour hour

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Irish

Serves 12

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all purpose flour plus more for dusting the work surface
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups raisins
  • 1/4 cup butter cold, cut into small pieces
  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 inch round pan with cooking spray.

  • Place the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Stir to combine.

  • Add the butter to the bowl, and use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.

  • Stir the raisins into the flour mixture.

  • Add the buttermilk and egg to the flour mixture and stir until a stiff dough forms.

  • Place the dough on a floured flat surface. Coat your hands in flour and shape the dough into a ball. The dough will be sticky.

  • Transfer the ball of dough to the prepared pan. Use a sharp knife to cut an X into the top of the loaf.

  • Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

  • Cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, then slice and serve.

Notes

  1. I use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dough. If you don’t have a pastry blender, two forks will do the job.
  2. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own. Combine 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Let the milk sit for about 10 minutes or until the mixture looks curdled, then proceed with the recipe.
  3. The dough will be sticky and soft. Use flour on your hands and on your work surface as needed to keep the dough from sticking and to form a nicely shaped loaf.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 196IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @dinneratthezoo on Instagram and hashtag it #dinneratthezoo

Originally Posted February 26, 2024

CategoriesBaking Side Dishes St. Patrick’s Day

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Irish Soda Bread Recipe (17)
Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

Why didn t my Irish soda bread rise? ›

Reasons for an improperly leavened loaf include: You used too little sodium bicarbonate. This translates into too little CO2. Your baking soda was too old.

Why is my Irish soda bread so dry? ›

It's important to remember no to overmix your ingredients. Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread, similar to a scone, but can easily become dry if overmixed. Quickly add the wet ingredients to a well you've made in the dry ingredients, and mix with your hands or a dough hook until it just comes together.

What is traditional Irish soda bread made of? ›

Containing just four ingredients — all-purpose wheat flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk — this Irish soda bread recipe is very much in line with what's eaten in Ireland. In addition to this version made with white flour, the Irish do make a whole wheat (aka wholemeal) variety as well.

Is soda bread healthier than normal bread? ›

Soda bread is quick to prepare and is a low-fat, yeast-free option. It may help alleviate symptoms of bloating and discomfort.

What do Irish people eat with soda bread? ›

Serve a slice with a stew.

Traditionally, Irish soda bread is served with a slow-simmered beef and barley stew.

Why cut a cross in Irish soda bread? ›

I was always told that the cross on the top of Irish Soda Bread was to symbolize the Catholic faith of Ireland, and the Gaelic Cross. Some say it kept the Devil out, but that is what a cross is supposed to do also. Turns out that is true but more importantly, it helps in the baking of the bread.

How to tell when Irish soda bread is done? ›

The most traditional doneness test calls for thumping the hot bread in the center to hear if it's hollow-sounding. A more foolproof indication is temperature; the loaf will register 200°F to 205°F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted in the center of the bread.

Why is my Irish soda bread gummy? ›

And finally, don't immediately cut into the Fast Irish Soda bread when you pull it out of the oven. Although this bread is best served warm, cutting into it too quickly will turn the bread gummy.

Should you refrigerate Irish soda bread? ›

Tightly wrap your leftover bread and place it in an airtight container. There's no need to refrigerate. As for how long soda bread lasts: Irish soda bread tends to dry out faster than other breads. The bread will be good for 3-4 days or up to three months if frozen.

Why is my Irish soda bread so doughy in the middle? ›

Chances are good that the bread you ate suffered from one of three common problems: improper amount of baking soda (a gross, salty-bitter taste), over cooking (a dry, chalky texture), or undercooking (a soggy, doughy center).

How do you make soda bread less crumbly? ›

Make sure you are using the correct amount of baking soda in the recipe. Too much or too little can result in a crumbly loaf. It's also possible that your oven wasn't hot enough when you baked the bread. Make sure to preheat your oven before baking Irish soda bread and don't open it frequently during the baking time.

What is the key ingredient in Irish soda bread that makes it different from other breads? ›

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 country is most associated with Irish soda bread? ›

A unique cooking method that gave soda bread its dense texture, hard crust, and slight sourness. Despite its humble beginnings, Irish soda bread has become a large part of the typical St. Patrick's Day feast and plays a major role in Ireland's culinary history.

Is bread soda the same as bread soda? ›

Bread soda is also known as bicarbonate of soda and baking soda. A good substitute for buttermilk, if you need sour milk in a recipe, add 1/2 teaspoon of Shamrock Bread Soda to 150ml fresh milk.

Why is my Irish soda bread brown? ›

In Ireland, they sometimes make it with varying proportions of whole wheat flour, creating what they often refer to as brown bread. As for the leavening, the acid in the buttermilk reacts with the soda to create carbon dioxide.

Why do Irish bread bakers use baking soda? ›

It was for everyday use, and its distinctive soft, crumbly, dense texture results from the "soft" wheat that grows in the cool climate of Ireland, meaning that it doesn't have enough protein to form the gluten structure of yeast-raised breads. Hence the use of baking soda, originally potash, as a leavening agent.

Why does Irish soda bread crumble? ›

Make sure you are using the correct amount of baking soda in the recipe. Too much or too little can result in a crumbly loaf. It's also possible that your oven wasn't hot enough when you baked the bread.

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