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    Home » Sides » Irish Soda Bread

    Irish Soda Bread

    Published: Mar 4, 2021 · Modified: Mar 8, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread that uses baking soda as a leavening agent and doesn't require any yeast. This Irish soda bread is a family favorite. It has a bit of sweetness in the bread that balances out the baking soda and buttermilk. The bread has a soft, biscuit-like texture that is perfect for soaking up butter!

    A loaf of Irish soda bread next to a knife and a dish of butter.

    I tried a lot of recipes for Irish soda bread before I found one that I liked. Many of the recipes that I tried were super crumbly or far too bitter for my liking.

    I found a recipe that had sugar in it, and I played around with it until I had a version that I was happy with. This recipe is a little different than some of the traditional recipes because it has a few ingredients that add more flavor to the bread (brown sugar and vanilla), and those ingredients help to balance out some of the tang of the buttermilk and baking soda.

    This version has become a family favorite. Give it a try, and it may become a favorite at your house, too!

    What makes Irish soda bread different?

    This bread is a quick bread, which means that it uses baking soda as a leavening agent and doesn't require any yeast.

    Rather than the fluffier texture of a yeast bread, the bread has a soft, biscuit-like texture that is perfect for soaking up butter!

    Ingredient notes

    Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe. The butter should be cool enough that it dents when pressed but shouldn't be warm or smooshy.

    Sugar: This bread is a little sweeter than other versions that I've tried. If you would like a less sweet bread, cut the sugar back to ¼-1/3 cup.

    Vanilla: While untraditional, it does add a little something to the bread. Feel free to omit it if you prefer.

    Flour: To properly measure the flour either weigh the flour or sift or stir the flour to break it up, lightly spoon into the measuring up, and level. Avoid packing in the flour to avoid a heavy loaf.

     Buttermilk: If you don't have buttermilk, you can make an easy substitute with this buttermilk substitute recipe. Also, low-fat or full-fat buttermilk will work in this recipe

    Raisins: You can substitute currants if you prefer.

    How to make Irish soda bread

    Butter and sugar beaten in a silver mixing bowl.

    Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9-inch round baking pan.

    Add butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and egg to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix until well-combined.

    Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and buttermilk. Mix in until just combined. Don't overmix the dough.

    Irish soda bread dough in a round baking pan.

    Stir in the raisins. Spread the dough into prepared pan.

    Using a sharp knife, make cut a cross into the top of the dough. This allows the dough to cook more uniformly.

    Bake 40-60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes.

    Remove it from the pan, and let it continue to cool on the rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

    Irish soda bread on a round gray wood cutting board.

    Variations

    Two easy ways to change up the flavor in this bread are

    >>to substitute currants for raisins and

    >>to add 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds to the bread.

    Loaf of Irish soda bread on a piece of parchment paper.

    Storage

    Irish soda bread isn't a great keeper. It's best eaten in the first 2 days.

    >>To store: Place the bread in a large, resealable bag.

    Can I freeze Irish soda bread?

    >>To freeze: If you'd like to make the bread ahead of time, you can freeze it. Bake the bread as-directed, and let it cool to room temperature.

    Wrap the cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap and place in a resealable plastic freezer bag. You can store the bread in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    More St. Patrick's Day recipes!

    • Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Bowls
    • Irish Cream Bundt Cake

    If you’ve tried this Irish soda bread recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or follow me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    A loaf of Irish soda bread next to a knife and a dish of butter.

    Irish Soda Bread

    Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread that uses baking soda as a leavening agent and doesn't require any yeast. This Irish soda bread is a family favorite. It has a bit of sweetness in the bread that balances out the baking soda and buttermilk. The bread has a soft, biscuit-like texture that is perfect for soaking up butter!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: bread
    Cuisine: Irish
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 244kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • 9-inch round pan

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup butter softened
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 large egg
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
    • 1 ¼ cups raisins
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 F.
    • Lightly grease a 9-inch round baking pan.
    • Add butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and egg to the bowl of a stand mixer.
    • Mix until well-combined.
    • Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and buttermilk.
    • Mix in until just combined. Don't overmix.
    • Stir in the raisins.
    • Spread the dough into prepared pan.
    • Using a sharp knife, make cut a cross into the top of the dough.
    • Bake 40-60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes.
    • Remove it from the pan, and let it continue to cool on the rack.
    • Serve warm or at room temperature.

    Notes

    • Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe. The butter should be cool enough that it dents when pressed but shouldn't be warm or smooshy.
    • Sugar: This bread is a little sweeter than other versions that I've tried. If you would like a less sweet bread, cut the sugar back to ¼-1/3 cup. 
    • Vanilla: While untraditional, it does add a little something to the bread. Feel free to omit it if you prefer. 
    • Flour: To properly measure the flour either weigh the flour or sift or stir the flour to break it up, lightly spoon into the measuring up, and level. Avoid packing in the flour to avoid a heavy loaf. 
    •  Buttermilk: If you don't have buttermilk, you can make an easy substitute with this recipe. Also, low-fat or full-fat buttermilk will work in this recipe
    • Raisins: You can substitute currants if you prefer. 
    • Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
    « Easy Homemade Breadsticks
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Charla

      March 12, 2021 at 5:54 pm

      I have seen recipes before for soda bread but never knew how to include it in meal planning. Ideas for including as part of meal, dessert or other suggestions.

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 12, 2021 at 8:55 pm

        In addition to serving it on St. Patrick's Day with corned beef, soda bread goes well with a number of other foods. This version is a little sweeter, so you may want to adjust the sugar depending on what you serve it with. The texture and the flavor make it great with soups and stews. You can also serve it warm with a generous pat of butter for dessert.

        Reply
    2. Penni

      March 05, 2021 at 5:29 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Best recipe I've tried!

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 05, 2021 at 5:32 pm

        Thank you!! Glad you liked it!

        Reply

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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