What makes Irish soda bread different?

Irish soda bread is prepared without yeast . Traditionally it has just four ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. The baking soda and buttermilk react to cause the dough to rise. In Ireland, soda bread is often made from stone-ground whole-wheat flour, though white flour versions are available.

What is traditionally served with Irish soda bread?

The thick and hearty nature of Irish soda bread helps it pair very well with meaty stews (especially Irish stew). You can use it to soak up the juices as you eat or as a vehicle for the meat and vegetables. Traditionally, Irish soda bread is served with a slow-simmered beef and barley stew .

Why is 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.

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. If you're new to baking or short on time, our seeded soda bread is an ideal loaf to bake at home.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

March 1, 2024 by Alea Milham 9 Comments

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Did you know that Irish Soda Bread is made without yeast? Irish Soda Bread rises because of baking soda, thus the name.

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon and all of us will embrace any Irish ancestry we can find in our lineage, even if we have to go back many generations to find it. My husband and I both have Irish ancestors. He comes from a noble line; my ancestors are Black Irish.

For us, St. Patrick’s Day is a day to pass on a little of our heritage as well as celebrate the life of St. Patrick.We read books about St. Patrick and read St. Patrick’s prayer at dinner. You can find aFree Printable St. Patrick’s Prayer here.

For dinner, we serve Corned Beef and Cabbage which is not a traditional Irish recipe, but it is a recipe that our Irish ancestors created and enjoyed after arriving in America.

This Irish Soda Bread recipe makes a lovely addition to Corned Beef and Cabbage, but it is so easy to make that it is a great bread recipe for whenever you want to quickly make bread without yeast.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
4 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
4 Tbsp butter, cold
1 cup raisins
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1¾ cups buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper – alternatively, you can use a cast iron pan.
3. Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
4. With two knives or a paddle attachment on a stand mixer, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is mixed in well then mix in raisins.
5. Create a well in the mixture and pour in your egg and buttermilk. Stir the dry ingredients into the liquid slowly with a wooden spoon until it is solid enough to kneed.
6. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and kneed together to form a ball, careful not to over-kneed the dough. The dough should remain somewhat shaggy looking. If you are using a sheet pan the more circular the better as the bread will spread out a bit while baking.
7. Transfer the dough to your sheet pan and use a large knife to cut an X into the dough about 1 inch deep.
8. Bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. If you are using a cast iron pan it will most likely take 55 minutes as it takes longer to heat up than a baking sheet. The bread should sound hollow when tapped.
9. Remove to a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Printable Recipe for Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

An easy Quick Bread recipe that does not require yeast to rise.

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Keyword Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

▢ 4 cups flour
▢ 4 Tbsp sugar
▢ 1 tsp salt
▢ 1 tsp baking soda
▢ 4 Tbsp butter cold
▢ 1 cup raisins
▢ 1 large egg lightly beaten
▢ 1¾ cups buttermilk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper - alternatively, you can use a cast iron pan.
Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
With two knives or a paddle attachment on a stand mixer, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is mixed in well then mix in raisins.
Create a well in the mixture and pour in your egg and buttermilk. Stir the dry ingredients into the liquid slowly with a wooden spoon until it is solid enough to kneed.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and kneed together to form a ball, careful not to over-kneed the dough. The dough should remain somewhat shaggy looking. If you are using a sheet pan the more circular the better as the bread will spread out a bit while baking.
Transfer the dough to your sheet pan and use a large knife to cut an X into the dough about 1 inch deep.
Bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. If you are using a cast iron pan it will most likely take 55 minutes as it takes longer to heat up than a baking sheet. The bread should sound hollow when tapped.
Remove to a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas

DIY Chenille Shamrocks

Free Printable St. Patrick’s Prayer

Shamrock Sugar Cookies

How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage in an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

Thanks to Elizabeth of Frugal Mom Eh! for sharing her recipe with me. This was originally published on February 21, 2016, and updated on March 14, 2021.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

Directions:

Printable Recipe for Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas

FAQs

What makes Irish soda bread different? ›