This Irish Soda bread is light, slightly sweet and irresistibly delicious! This Irish soda bread recipe is a no-knead, no yeast, quick bread made with just a few simple ingredients.
Traditional Irish soda bread is a tasty and dense bread made with only four ingredients – flour, baking soda, buttermilk and salt. Although I love the classic – old fashioned homemade soda bread right out of grandma’s kitchen in Ireland, this soda bread recipe is a slightly updated version sure to please American palates.
Why You Will Love This Irish Bread Recipe
- Bread making can be a daunting task, however this no-yeast bread recipe is easy and quick to make. No proofing, no rising, no kneading homemade bread.
- This bread recipe produces a dense, yet light soda bread with a tender crumb and the most perfect golden crust. The addition of raisins or currants adds a hint of sweetness that makes this the best, kid approved, family friendly soda bread recipe.
A Little Bit of Irish Bread History
Soda bread became popular during the Irish Potato Famine or Great Famine that occurred between 1845 – 1849. Because the potato crop was compromised, the Irish then started making unleavened bread at home to survive this period of mass starvation.
Irish Soda Bread Recipe Ingredients
- Flour
- Buttermilk
- Egg
- Butter
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Sugar
- Orange Zest
- Raisins or Currants
How To Make Soda Bread
- First preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet or cast iron skillet with parchment paper.
- On a mixer mix the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter and mix until the butter is well mixed in.
- In a measuring cup or bowl, lightly whisk the egg, buttermilk and orange zest.
- Slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and mix until the mixture comes together.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of flour with the raisins or currants.
- Add the floured raisins into the dough.
- Dump the dough onto a floured board.
- Knead to form a smooth ball.
- Place the dough onto the lined baking sheet or cast iron skillet and with a knife, score an X on the top. Bake.
What Does Soda Bread Tastes Like?
This easy soda bread recipe has a great texture. It’s rich, a bit moist and not heavy at all. It’s light, tender and slightly sweet. It reminds me a bit of a scone but not as crumbly.
What Do You Eat With Soda Bread?
In Ireland, soda bread is served for breakfast with tea, for lunch with meats and cheeses or for dinner with main dishes like homemade stew or Irish Potato Soup.
At home, we love eating this simple bread warm from the oven slathered with butter and a little bit of jam or orange marmalade.
Buttermilk Substitute
If you are out of buttermilk, you can make your own by combining milk and an acid like lemon juice or vinegar. This mixture won’t be as thick and rich as buttermilk, but it will work in a pinch. Another option is to combine plain yogurt or sour cream, thinned out with milk and to add lemon juice.
To make homemade buttermilk, use 1 cup of milk or cream mixed with 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice or vinegar.
Quick Breads- No Yeast Breads
- Quick breads are baked goods that are made without yeast. No yeast breads, use other leavening agents such as baking soda and baking powder.
- In this Irish bread recipe, baking soda reacts with the buttermilk creating a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide gas bubbles plus the oven heat, allows the bread to rise and get tender.
Soda Bread Tips And Notes
- For the best soda bread, don’t over-work the dough. Irish soda bread should look rustic and homemade.
- It is important to score the top of the bread so the heat reaches the center of the loaf while it bakes.
- Soda bread dries out quickly however, it can be made 1 to 3 days ahead. To store it, wrap it tightly or place it in an air tight container to keep it fresh.
- You can freeze sodabread tightly wrapped for up to 3 months.
- This recipe for Irish soda bread calls for raisins or currants, however you can use dried cranberries if you prefer.
- Some Irish soda bread recipes use caraway seeds. Caraway seeds have an anise/licorice flavor and are a great addition to this Irish bread.
- Soda bread can be baked on a sheet pan, a baking pan, on a cast iron skillet and even in a Dutch oven.
- Irish baked goods like this white soda bread or brown soda bread (made with whole wheat flour (wholemeal), usually make their appearance for Saint Patrick’s day, however, this quick bread recipe is simple and easy enough to make any time of the year.
Take A Look A Look At These Other Recipes:
- Instant Pot Corned Beef
- Cheddar Ale Soup
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup
- Carrot Soup
- Potato Corn Chowder
- Shamrock Shake Shots
- Guinness Blond Margarita
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon to coat the raisins or currants
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt I prefer kosher or sea salt
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2-inch dice (1/2 stick)
- 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 cup raisins golden raisins or currants (or a combination)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the baking pan, you can use a sheet pan or a seasoned 10 – 12 inch cast iron skillet lined with parchment paper. You can also use a greased 9 – 10 inch cake pan.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the 4 cups of flour, the sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
- With a fork, lightly whisk the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture.
- Combine the raisins or currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. The dough will be very wet.
- Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and with floured hands, knead the dough a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan (cast iron skillet or baking pan) and with a sharp knife score an X into the top of the bread.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool on a baking rack. Serve warm, at room temperature or toasted. Serve it by itself, with butter or your favorite topping.
Recipe Notes
- Don’t overwork the dough.
- Always score the top of the bread so the heat reaches the center of the loaf while it bakes.
- Soda bread dries out quickly however, it can be made 1 to 3 days ahead. To store it, wrap it tightly or place it in an air tight container to keep it fresh.
- You can freeze soda bread tightly wrapped for up to 3 months.
- This recipe for Irish soda bread calls for raisins or currants, however you can use dried cranberries if you prefer.
- Some Irish soda bread recipes use caraway seeds. Caraway seeds have an anise/licorice flavor and are a great addition to this Irish bread.
- Soda bread can be baked on a sheet pan, a baking pan, on a cast iron skillet and even in a Dutch oven.
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