Traditional Irish Soda Bread is a dense and moist bread that requires no rising time and just four simple ingredients to make.
This Irish Soda Bread is a delicious recipe that goes back many many years. Using only 4 ingredients it comes together quickly and serves a crowd. A great quick recipe when you have minimal ingredients and time.
Is Irish Soda Bread really Irish?
While that question has been asked for many years, the truthful answer is no. Irish Soda Bread or Soda Bread is a quick bread using baking soda as a leavening agent. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and buttermilk in this recipe produces carbon dioxide which causes it to rise.
The Irish like other many European countries back in the early 1800’s didn’t produce much hard wheat to make a good yeast bread, and adopted the soda bread as their own and hence the name Irish Soda Bread.
How do you eat Irish Soda Bread?
While there are many ways to eat this tasty bread the most typical way to enjoy it is with a spread of butter. While adding some jam or marmalade to it also produces a fun flavorful breakfast type feel.
You can also serve it along side soups for dipping or instead of slicing into chunks you can slice thinly and make them into sandwiches, which this bread would serve well because it’s sturdy.
How do you store Irish Soda Bread?
While this particular bread can dry out quickly, it is best to store it tightly wrapped or in an air safe container to preserve it longer. You can store it wrapped for about 3-4 days or freeze it for up to 2-3 months.
So if you have minimal ingredients on hand at home but have a hankering for bread, this Irish Soda Bread recipe is a quick, easy option and is 100% delicious!
If you like this recipe you may also be interested in these other delicious bread recipes:
- Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
- Rosemary Cheddar Dutch Oven Bread
- Cheesy Pesto Garlic Bread
- Flaky Old Fashioned Biscuits
- Homemade Dinner Rolls
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt or 2 1/4 tsp table salt
- 1 1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In large bowl whisk together your flour, baking soda and salt. Add in your buttermilk and stir until it just comes together.
- Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead until it forms a smooth ball. Dust the outside with flour and place on an un-greased baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to slash a 1 inch deep cross on top of the loaf.
- Bake in oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown.
Nutrition
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Mary Rafferty says
Too much salt! I use 1 tsp. Have been making it for years.
Carole Gray says
I made this bread for a second time tonight and followed the instructions carefully but unfortunately both times the bread was slightly raw on the inside. What could I be doing wrong?
Rachel (The Stay At Home Chef) says
If you preheated your oven to the correct temperature and cooked it for the right amount of time (and you didn’t make any other changes to the recipe), it’s always possible your oven runs on the cooler side and it may just need a longer baking time.
Jamie Stilp says
Made this with the exception of only adding a tsp. of the sea salt. This turned out beautiful and delicious. Thank you so much for this recipe, definitely will be using often to accompany many dinners.
Taz says
Made this as written. We did nto like this. It was SALTY! That was all you could taste.
This is extremely dense as well, like soda bread should be, but it should not be a salt lick.
Rachel Farnsworth says
Did you add 1 tablespoon or 2 1/4 teaspoons? And was it sea salt or table salt. 1 tablespoon of table salt would have yielded a salty bread.
Barry D. says
For dessert for St. Patrick’s day, I add raisins soaked in Irish Whiskey. I put the raisins in a small covered jar in the refrigerator for a week. I add the raisins at the same time I add the buttermilk. I also add 1/2 cup of brown sugar. The leftover whiskey can be made into whiskey butter which can be spread on the soda bread. For best results, use unsalted butter for the whiskey butter.
Lindsay says
This sounds like the best idea I’ve ever heard!
Carole Deering says
Can I add raisins and caraway seeds to this recipe? If so, how much and when? Thank you, Carole
Rachel Farnsworth says
Simply add them in with the flour.
Irva Cooper says
This is a perfect loaf!! I crossed through my original recipe and wrote this instead and marked it with a star!!!
Pamela Peery says
Two questions – approximately how long should it be kneaded and what should it be baked on (the rack, a cookie sheet, something else)?
I’m obviously an inexperienced baker but I would like to take a shot at this. Thank you for any advice you might give.
Pam
Rachel Farnsworth says
This is one of the easiest, most forgiving breads to make. Kneading should be just long enough to make the dough look mixed together like a dough ball (it takes people different amounts of time to get there so I hate to give you a number). Watch the video for a visual. Bake it on a cookie sheet or baking pan. This is a great bread to start with!
Dawnj says
I made this Irish Soda bread to go with our stew tonight for dinner. I have made three different recipes, over the years, for my Irish husband—he said each were okay. However after eating a slice of this bread he did a jig and said it tasted very close to what his Mum and Grandmum would make him. I swear there was a twinkle in his eye. Thank you for posting this recipe! Made me very happy to bake something so close to his childhood memories of home (for my sweetie pie).
kimberlin correia says
This bread is delicious and sooo easy to make!! The texture is perfect too!! Thank you!! It is now one of our family traditions for St Patrick’s Day!! 🧡☘️🧡
Sue Curtis says
I am so anxious to get cooking here. These recipes are going to be yummy!
Noe Valley Bakery says
Looks delicious!
Patricia says
So is there a way to sub the buttermilk, my family is lactose intolerant, I haven’t seen any lactaid brand buttermilk in our stores here.
Thanks
Rachel Farnsworth says
Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice to almond milk. Let sit 5 minutes before using.
Jimmy Reed says
I had some Irish Soda bread once that tasted just like a scone. Could that be done with this recipe by simply adding some sugar? Thank you for your help.
Jimmy
Rachel Farnsworth says
Worth a try!
2pots2cook says
This looks like a perfect bread to have for breakfast : warmed with a slice of bread and coffee…. Great ! Thank you !