Easy Irish Soda Bread is one of the easiest breads to make. It’s made with just 5 basic ingredients and requires no yeast. I have made it for St. Patrick’s Day and any day I want fresh bread.
Want some more St. Patrick’s day treats? Try my copycat shamrock shake or my fun lucky cupcakes.
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Why this Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe is a Keeper
I love baking bread made with baking soda because it’s so easy. This great recipe is perfect for beginners and is super delicious.
- Easy Ingredients: Best Irish soda bread uses 5 common ingredients you often have on hand.
- Pantry Meal: You probably have most of the ingredients to make this recipe for Irish soda bread in your pantry right now.
- Delicious Flavor: Irish soda bread recipes turns out well every time you make it, it has a beautiful crumb.
- Great for Beginner Cooks: Irish bread is a great bread to start with if you’re a beginner cook. No need to knead the dough on a floured work surface.
- Freezes Well: The baking soda and buttermilk flour mixture is great for making ahead and freezing for later.
- Great for Leftovers: The leftovers taste just as good, if not better.
What is the Difference Between Regular Bread and Irish Soda Bread?
The main difference between soda bread and regular bread is the leavening agent. Regular yeast bread uses yeast to make it rise, while Irish soda bread uses baking soda.
Pro Tip for My Homemade Buttermilk Bread
Use a hot oven: A hot oven is key to getting a good rise and a crispy crust.
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Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions to Make Irish Soda Bread
Soda bread requires just a few easy to find ingredients. If you don’t have the ingredients, you can substitute using different add-ins.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Flour:
- Different Flour: You can use a mix of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor. You can also try bread flour.
- Buttermilk:
- Substitution: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar, to 1 cup of whole milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Add-ins: Get creative with add-ins like raisins, currants, caraway seeds, or even cheddar cheese and herbs.
How to Make Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
This recipe comes together in 3 easy to follow steps. This soda bread is a quick bread that’s so good, you’ll be making it every week. It is a favorite bread in Ireland.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat oven to 425℉, and grease and flour a round cake pan.
- Knead Bread Dough: In a mixer with the hook attachment, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the sugar and slowly pour in the buttermilk. Mix until a sticky ball forms.
- Bake the Round Loaf: Place dough into prepared baking pan. Cover the baking sheet and bake. Remove cover and continue bake until bread is golden brown. Let cool before removing.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Easy Quick Bread
Preparing ingredients ahead of time can help to save you time and kitchen space when it comes to making the easy recipe.
- Measure: Measure the dry ingredients and pack in zip top bags for future use.
- Prep Add-Ins: Chop and prepare any add ins so that they are ready to go.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover
- Storing: This loaf of bread is best served fresh but can be stored in an airtight container. It should last for up to three days at room temperature.
- Reheating: You can toast this bread, or you can warm the loaf in the oven at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftover bread with corned beef and cabbage. You could also make a loaf of banana bread or Irish stew. This bread is perfect as a side.
Homemade Bread Recipe FAQs
Your soda bread may be dense and dry if you overmixed the dough and added too much baking soda.
You’ll know when the bread is done when it’s nice, golden brown bread.
Yes. To make it sweet add the raisins, sultans, currents, cranberries or sprinkle a little sugar on top. To make it savory, add garlic, thyme, oregano and top with Garlic Herb Butter.
Expert Tips to Make Soda Bread
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Mix just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing develops the gluten, resulting in a tough loaf.
- Fresh Ingredients: Baking soda loses its potency over time, so use a fresh container. Buttermilk should also be fresh for best results.
- Don’t Skip the “X”: Cutting an “X” in the top of the center of the bead allows steam to escape, preventing the bread from cracking unevenly.
- Let it Cool: Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent it from crumbling.
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Easy Irish Soda Bread
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Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.
Ingredients
- 4 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 ¾ cups Buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons Sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉.
- Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
- In a mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine flour, baking soda and salt.
- With the mixer on low, add the sugar than slowly pour in the buttermilk.
- Turn the mixer to medium speed and mix until a sticky ball forms.
- Continue to mix at medium speed for a minute.
- Remove dough from mixer and place into prepared pan.
- Press dough so that it cover the bottom of the pan.
- Using a sharp knife, cut an X into the dough about 1/4 inch deep.
- Cover the pan with another 9-inch cake pan that has been inverted.
- Bake, covered, for 30 minutes.
- Remove cover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before removing bread from the cake pan.
Christina’s Notes
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Mix just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing develops the gluten, resulting in a tough loaf.
- Fresh Ingredients: Baking soda loses its potency over time, so use a fresh container. Buttermilk should also be fresh for best results.
- Don’t Skip the “X”: Cutting an “X” in the top of the center of the bead allows steam to escape, preventing the bread from cracking unevenly.
- Let it Cool: Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent it from crumbling.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
Great recipe and perfect for making with corned beef and cabbage.
This soda bread came out great. It makes a yummy breakfast bread.
I usually make a savoury soda bread but this sweet version sounds so delicious! A must try.
The flavor of this bread is perfect. I add raisins to mine. My family loves it. Especially toasted!