Traditional Irish Soda Bread is a dense and moist bread that requires no rising time and just four simple ingredients to make. Even better, it’s ready in just 45 minutes, start to finish.
This Irish Soda Bread is a delicious recipe that goes back many, many years. We use it as our go-to quick bread recipe when we haven’t planned ahead to have bread with dinner. Biscuits and dinner rolls are always great, but sometimes we just want a thick and sturdy piece of bread to go with dinner, and Irish soda bread does not disappoint. No prior planning required, it uses only four ingredients and bakes in under 40 minutes – no rising, no waiting. If you’re hoping to serve a larger crowd, you might want to make two of these loaves. Sharing doesn’t come easy.
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. Hence the name Irish Soda Bread.
Serving Suggestions:
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.
Storage Instructions:
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.
If you like this recipe you may also be interested in these other delicious bread recipes:
This is so simple so easy and soooo good ! Prep and cook time is accurate (most recipes way under estimate prep time, especially for novice cooks). A couple of things. Recipe states 3 to 3 1/2 cups; in the ingredients, the steps call for 2 1/2 cups whisked together. The video calls for 3 1/2 cups whisked together. For the novice this must be confusing. I whisk 3 cups to split the difference. I also use my danish whisk so my consistency is a bit more doughy to start than the video shows. Pro tip: make sure hands are well floured before kneading / shaping bread. A dash of flour on the surface is all you need to start. You can always add a bit more if dough is too sticky to handle. You can over do it and you can’t undo it, so a little at a time is best to get “just enough”. Again fantastic easy recipe; everyone loves this bread and marvels at my “skill”. Haha .. if they only knew 😊
I have not made soda bread in a long while, but since my husband brought a big bag of raisins home this afternoon the thought struck me. I wanted something on the sweeter side to have with tea so I added a bit of sugar and an egg for more richness. I also had some sourdough discard and lacking buttermilk so I combined milk with some Greek yogurt and the sourdough in a blender to add acidity and help improve shelf life. The result turned out wonderfully.
Wow! First time I have ever seen someone have the traditional Irish soda bread recipe. My mother in law makes it like this and so did her mom who was from Tipperary. Thank you.
We love this bread. Have made a couple different mix ins..
*Raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg
*Jalapeno and cheddar cheese
*Regular (1 with 2 tsp salt rest with 1 tsp salt,
we like either or)
* Pepper Jack
Love this recipe easy to add things to it. Easy to make.
* Made loafs or circles (for chili or soup)
Just made 2nd loaf. Added sliced kalamata olives, capers, fresh minced garlic & herbs. 1st try was not salty enough at 1tsp, used 2 this time and it was delicious! Both times, the crust was done waaay before inside. I tried 415° this time, will try lower next time. This is so easy and yummy! I have fibromyalgia, and find most recipes unbearable. Really appreciate this one, I will be making it often!
Since when is soda bread a salty bread? I have been collecting soda bread recipes for years. This is a first I have seen 2 tsp salt.
Great easy recipe. Made it with and without raisins. Great either way.
Great recipe. This is so much like the recipe that was handed down to me from my great, great grandmother from Cork, Ireland. Since grapes/raisins are not indigenous to Ireland, I use ‘Craisins’ which are more like the wild Bilberries that were common throughout the land. BTW, I’m glad you said, “Cross” on the top of the loaf. It’s tradition. 😉
I made this for the first time today. I should have watched the video first as there are differences in amounts of flour and salt. The instructions in the recipe were not clear to me. Having said that, it turned out well.
While there are others who found this too salty, I used the 2 tsps of table salt and did not find it salty at all. Just some saltiness in the crust. The next time I will use the coarse sea salt.
Overall an easy and good recipe that I will make again.
This bread is so good you won’t believe how easy it is to make. This recipe is added to “my favorites “.