Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

This easy Irish Soda Bread recipe is soft and tender with a crunchy crust! It’s filled with raisins, and so good with little butter!

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• Let’s Talk Irish Soda Bread!
• This is an Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe
• Is There Yeast In Soda Bread?
• Ingredients:
• How Do You Make Irish Soda Bread?
• What If You Don’t Have Buttermilk?
• How To Store/Can You Freeze Soda Bread?
• Tips On Making Irish Soda Bread
• Looking for more quick bread recipes? Try these:
• Get the Recipe

Let’s Talk Irish Soda Bread!

I am exactly zero percent Irish, so this certainly isn’t a family soda bread recipe passed down from Ireland in terms of authenticity. BUT it is a family recipe. My mom made this Irish Soda Bread when I was little, and I have made it as an adult many times. I use her recipe card that was most likely copied from a magazine in the 80s. However, I have found, authentic or not, it’s an incredibly easy, foolproof recipe, while being super delish!

This is an Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Not only is it easy, it has a moist, tender crumb with a crusty exterior. What I love about this “bread” recipe, is there is no yeast involved, so when I say it’s quick and easy, I mean it! Kind of like myNo Yeast Cinnamon Rolls, this Irish Soda Bread uses leavening agents to aid in the rising, as opposed to yeast. You’ll have it all set to eat in under 45 minutes from start to finish…just enough time to let you butter come up to room temperature! It’s a little sweet thanks to the small amount of granulated sugar, and the addition of raisins, but it’s not overly sweet. I would compare the texture to more of a scone rather than a bread.

And this recipe makes 2 loaves, which I love because you can save one for later, or gift it to a friend!

Is There Yeast In Soda Bread?

Nope! The great thing about Irish Soda Bread is there is no yeast necessary, and instead uses leavening agents, like bakingsoda(hence the name “soda bread”)and baking powder combined with buttermilk to get the rise and fluffy texture! The buttermilk in the dough contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda and powder to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide…which is what causes the bread to rise!

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Kosher salt
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Cold cubed butter
• Large eggs
• Buttermilk
• Raisins. Yes, you can absolutely omit the raisins if you are opposed. Or you could sub them out with dried currants or dried cranberries.

How Do You Make Irish Soda Bread?

Like I said this recipe will be done from start to finish in under 45 minutes. All you need is a large bowl and a pastry cutter (or even a fork).

PRO TIP #1: Don’t over-mix, because you don’t want too much gluten to form, making the dough chewy. Soda Bread should have a tender, soft crumb.

1. Preheat your oven o 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Cut in butter, using a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse sand. Mix in the whisked eggs and buttermilk until just moistened. Stir in the raisins. Either in the bowl or on a lightly floured surface knead the bread 5-10 times until dough comes together.
3. Divide the dough in half and round the halves into round loaves. Place 6 inched apart onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
4. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PRO TIP #2: If serving warm use a serrated knife to slice the bread so it slices nicely. Warm quick bread like this with a crusty exterior has a tendency of breaking if you slice it too warm (don’t worry it will stay delish), so the serrated knife helps! If the bread is room temperature a sharp knife will work fine too!

What If You Don’t Have Buttermilk?

Absolutely no problem. Just check out my full post onHow To Make Buttermilk, which has saved me on more occasions than I can count! It’s a simple little trick mixing milk with an acid like lemon juice or white vinegar to mimic the effects that using buttermilk offer, which is a tender crumb.

How To Store/Can You Freeze Soda Bread?

Yes, absolutely. Wrap your baked loaf in plastic wrap and then again in foil and store in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw and then reheat as desired!

To store Irish Soda Bread all you have to do it keep it airtight at room temperature. You can use an airtight container, plastic wrap, or a zip-top bag!

Tips On Making Irish Soda Bread

I really feel like my Soda Bread Recipe is foolproof. It’s very hard to mess up. Only over mixing or over baking could produce bad results. BUT there a few things you can do to this recipe to make it even better! Here are some tricks:

• Use European Butter, or Kerrygold Irish Butter! The higher butterfat content in the butter lends to a richer Soda Bread, and add to a more tender crumb.
• Add a little orange zest! This is a good trick if you like a citrus note in your bread, which I think pairs well with the raisins. Just a few teaspoons will really add some flavor.
• To enhance the crunchy crust of soda bread, sprinkle the dough with turbinado sugar or even granulated sugar. Not only will it add a sweetness, but it gives it a sweet crunch.
• Once you cut the soda bread, wrap it up tightly to store in foil or plastic wrap. Soda bread will dry out quickly, so keeping it fresh is key!
• If raisins aren’t your thing, you can sub in currants, or even dried cranberries!
• Try baking this in a cast iron skillet! Since this recipe bakes 2 loaves I find a baking pan is the easiest method, but if you cut it in half you can try baking in a cast iron skillet which gives you an extra crusty bottom!

Looking for more quick bread recipes? Try these:

• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Autumn Bread
• Ranch Beer Bread

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