Irish Soda Bread is the ultimate quick bread to use as a side for soups, stews, and all sorts of meals. There’s no yeast so there’s no waiting. Just mix and bake! This traditional recipe delivers a crispy, golden crust with a soft, tender inside thatโs just begging for a smear of butter.
Why Our Recipe
- Super easy, no yeast, and ready in under an hour. Just mix, shape, and bake!
- Crispy crust, soft inside which is perfect for slathering with butter.
- Keep it plain or add raisins and/or caraway for extra flavor.
This bread is a go-to for me for a lot of reasons. It uses pantry staples I always have on hand and I can have warm, fresh bread on the table in under an hour. Adding raisins is traditional, and so is caraway, but you can always leave it plain. We particularly love this bread with caraway for extra flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- All-Purpose Flour: You start with 2 ยฝ cups and then add more as needed. Too much flour will make the bread dense, so add gradually.
- Salt: This bread is salty and savory. If you prefer less, you can reduce it to 1 teaspoon.
- Baking Soda: Make sure that baking soda is fresh because this is where the rise comes in without yeast.
- Buttermilk: If you donโt have buttermilk, mix 1 ยฝ cups milk with 1 ยฝ tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Raisins: Traditional in Irish soda bread! Use regular or golden raisins, or swap them for currants. Or leave them out entirely.
- Caraway Seeds: These add a slightly nutty, anise-like flavor which we love.
How Much Flour to Add
Flour amounts in bread recipes always vary a little because things like humidity and altitude can affect how much youโll need. Thatโs why itโs best to start with the lower amount. In this case, we start with 2 ยฝ cups while you are still stirring, and add more flour while kneading.
The dough should be soft, slightly sticky, and easy to work with. If itโs too wet and sticks heavily to your hands or the counter, sprinkle in more flour a little at a time until it firms up. You want it tacky but not overly sticky. Be careful not to add too much, though! Extra flour can make the bread dense and dry.
Since Irish soda bread is a quick bread with no yeast, the dough will feel softer than traditional bread dough, and thatโs okay. A little stickiness is normal, but it shouldnโt be dry or crumbly.
Raisins and Caraway: Optional
Raisins and caraway seeds are both traditional in Irish soda bread, but whether you add them is totally up to you! You can add both, just one, or skip them entirelyโeither way, this bread will turn out delicious!
Raisins add pops of sweetness that balances out the saltiness of the bread. Regular or golden raisins both work, or you can swap them for currants, which are slightly smaller and a little tangier. Not a fan of raisins? Feel free to leave them out.
Caraway Seeds bring a nutty, slightly anise-like flavor that gives the bread a more distinctive taste. They arenโt overpowering, but they do add noticeable flavor. If youโve ever had rye bread, youโll recognize the subtle hint of caraway. If youโre unsure, try adding just a little and see what you think!
What to Bake it On
You donโt need any fancy equipment to bake Irish soda bread, but different pans can change the crust and texture a bit.
Baking Sheet: The easiest and most common choice! A simple baking sheet lets the bread cook evenly and develop a crisp crust all around.
Cast-Iron Skillet: Want to go old-school? A cast-iron skillet holds heat really well, which helps create a beautifully golden, crisp crustโsimilar to how it was traditionally baked.
Dutch Oven: If you like a softer crust, baking in a Dutch oven with the lid on traps steam, which makes the bread extra tender. This mimics the Irish “bastible” method.
Storage Instructions
Irish soda bread is best enjoyed fresh. Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container, plastic bag, or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. It will stay fresh for 2 to 3 days.
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Can I add raisins and caraway seeds to this recipe? If so, how much and when? Thank you, Carole
Simply add them in with the flour.
This is a perfect loaf!! I crossed through my original recipe and wrote this instead and marked it with a star!!!
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
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!
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 husbandโhe 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).
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 Patrickโs Day!! ?โ๏ธ?
I am so anxious to get cooking here. These recipes are going to be yummy!
Looks delicious!
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
Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice to almond milk. Let sit 5 minutes before using.
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
Worth a try!
This looks like a perfect bread to have for breakfast : warmed with a slice of bread and coffee…. Great ! Thank you !