Irish Soda Bread
A simple loaf of Irish Soda Bread is quick, comforting and the perfect addition to your St. Patrick’s Day feast. But feel free to make it ALL year long!
This Easy Soda Bread is leavened without yeast, but instead baking soda (occasionally baking powder, too, but the name comes from soda). These are also called quick bread. Adding buttermilk enhances the rising potential with the chemical reaction between the alkaline soda and acidic buttermilk.
Why You Must Make
I had only made Irish brown bread before, so I followed this recipe pretty closely except for adding a few tablespoons of sugar. There were only 4 ingredients in this recipe: flour, soda, salt, and buttermilk. I didn’t even need to make out a shopping list.
- This easy bread recipe only needs 4 Ingredients: Flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk.
- A lovely dense loaf with a perfectly chewy crust came out of my oven after the 50-minute baking time.
- Despite its rustic look, this is a fabulous bread for such minimal effort. I got the “this is really, really good” response when I cut Bill a slice.
- This soda bread recipe comes from Marion Cunningham, cookbook author and food writer.
Soda Bread Ingredients
- Flour – All-purpose flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt – Table salt is fine
- Sugar – Not traditional, so it’s an optional ingredient.
- Buttermilk – You can make a buttermilk substitute with milk and an acid like lemon juice or vinegar. Real buttermilk is always preferred.
- Dried Fruit – Currants are classic, but any dried fruit like cherries or cranberries will be a delicious addition. Chop if needed.
How to Make
- Preheat the oven, grease the baking dish, then measure all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk the ingredients together until they’re well combined.
- Add the buttermilk and mix until combined.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for just a minute or so. Shape into a 6-inch ball, slice an X across the surface, then bake as directed.
Recipe Tips
- My Italian friend, Ann, recommends mixing the dough with your hands to give the bread a light and airy consistency. Her version also has a stick of butter and is quite tasty! Using a whisk is perfectly acceptable, too.
- The dough should be well-blended, but not overworked. As with all quick bread (those using baking powder and/or baking soda), they will develop tunnels if over-mixed.
- The dough should be heavy, but not too wet. If it seems too dry you can add a bit more buttermilk.
- I like to dust my hands with flour to shape the bread into round loaves.
- Ann uses the wrong end of a fork to cut a deep X into the loaf. I used a sharp knife instead. This provides the classic look of homemade soda bread. It also helps the loaf to bake evenly.
- Dusting the top with flour before making the cut will make the X stand out.
- Adding raisins is a traditional option, though one my family would not appreciate.
- I’ve added dried cherries in the past, but I’m the only fan of those around here! Raisins are more traditional.
- Bake in a cake pan or cast iron skillet (the skillet will give a better rise).
- Inserting a knife into the bread at the end of the baking time will tell you if your bread is done. It should come out clean if the bread is fully cooked.
Later, I made a second loaf, a half batch with the addition of 1/3 cup of dried cherries. Soda Bread with Raisins is a more traditional option, but I prefer cherries. This smaller Irish soda bread loaf was baked for 35 minutes. I hope you all had a marvelous St. Patrick’s Day. Erin Go Bragh!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
In the 1800s, the cross on this Irish bread was thought to keep the Devil escape from the bread as it baked. It’s also a symbol of giving thanks.
Use the recipe’s baking time for guidance. But also watch for the slash to expand and the loaf to be golden brown.
Wait until it cools completely before serving. Serve plain, with butter or with butter and jam or marmalade.
Wrap it well and store it at room temperature. This is a bread that is best on the day it is made as its lack of fat makes it dry out quickly.
You May Also Like
- St. Patrick’s Day Desserts from Hoosier Homemade
- Sunflower Whole Wheat Bread
- Homemade Pita Bread
- Irish Cream Pots de Creme
- Irish Chocolate Mousse Cake
- Plus all my Best Bread Recipes
Irish Soda Bread Recipe
A classic loaf of Irish soda bread!
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar (my addition, optional)
- 2 cups buttermilk*
- 1 cup dried cherries, optional
Instructions
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch pie plate or baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt (and sugar if using). Whisk in the buttermilk until the dough comes together. Add dried cherries or other dried fruit, if using.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for a minute. It should be soft and malleable but not overworked.
- Pat it into a 6-inch dough ball and place it in the pan. Cut an X into the top.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown and the X has widened. Cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Recipe from Baking with Julia.
*If you do not have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk (less the one tablespoon). Let rest for a few minutes to let thicken and curdle.
May add raisins, currants, dried cherries, or other chopped dried fruit to the bread dough.
Best eaten on the day it's baked.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 899mgCarbohydrates: 93gFiber: 3gSugar: 26gProtein: 12g
75 Comments on “Irish Soda Bread”
I have never had soda bread, only read about it, yours look yum and a surprisingly easy recipe too 🙂
Very nice! I love a good soda bread, though I’ve never had it with raisins!
Wowwowowo, the breads lok perfect , never tried this kind of bread before , I still didn’t get to make your cheesecake 🙁 , I am so busy these days 24 hrs are not enough in a day . One question , can I halve the cheesecake recipe , will it turn out perfect ??
Your bread looks like the ultimate in soda breads – I would most happily devour it with some jam 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This sounds wonderful!
Lizzy, love this bread with some of my plum sauce/jam. Thanks for the recipe!
The bread looks so tempting with all those raisins. Yummm
Your Irish Soda Bread looks amazing! Adding dried cherries? How fabulous it must be! I rather want to eat this bread than sweet greenish cupcakes to celebrate St. Pattys. =P
I have seen so many beautiful loaves of irish soda bread recently and am very tempted to try baking one myself! Yours look so gorgeous! I love the rustic look!
Your soda bread is just beautiful!! I love your pictures too:-) Hugs, Terra
Beautiful Irish Soda bread, Lizzy. You would think it’s made with yeast, yet it’s a lot easier to make. Will give it a try for next year, and do the entire “works” for the festivities!
Love the idea of the dried cherries!
I’m so used to baking yeasted bread and tends to “forget” baking the non-yeasted ones.
This soda bread is very beautifully baked and great for St Paddy’s Day!
Liz, this looks terrific and absolutely perfect for the season!
My sister made me homemade scones for breakfast this morning! So sweet…and these look equally terrific!
Your loaves are beautiful! I need to try one with some dried cherries, that sounds delicious.
oh it looks so delicious! I love a good homemade bread and I have never tried soda bread before- until now! I have to try this recipe
I’ve never had soda bread. I guess it’s about time I try it! Looks wonderful Lizzy! 🙂
Your bread is picture perfect!
This looks delicious, texture and the cross is cut perfectly, not too deep at all! Looks like it has come straight from an irish kitchen. Yum!