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A simple loaf of Irish Soda Bread is quick, comforting, and the perfect addition to your St. Patrick’s Day feast. But feel free to make it ALL year long!

This Easy Soda Bread Recipe is leavened without yeast, but instead with baking soda (occasionally baking powder, too, but its name comes from the soda). This is also called a quick bread since you don’t need to “proof” it or let it rise before baking, as with yeast breads. Adding buttermilk enhances the rising potential with the chemical reaction between the alkaline soda and acidic buttermilk.

Irish Soda Bread on a white plate
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Must Make
2 Soda Bread Ingredients
3 How to Make
4 Recipe Tips
5 Frequently Asked Questions
6 You May Also Like
7 Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Why You Must Make

I had only made Irish Brown Bread before, after a trip to Ireland, so I followed this recipe pretty closely, except for adding a few tablespoons of sugar. The recipe has 4 ingredients, so I didn’t even need to make out a shopping list. 

  • This easy bread recipe only needs four simple ingredients: Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, and Buttermilk.
  • A lovely, dense loaf with a perfectly chewy crust came out of my oven after the 50-minute baking time. 
  • Despite its rustic look, this is a fabulous bread for such minimal effort. I got the “this is really, really good” response when I cut Bill a slice.
  • This Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe comes from Marion Cunningham, cookbook author and food writer.
Irish Soda Bread Ingredients on a sheetpan with labels.

Soda Bread Ingredients

  • Flour – All-purpose flour.
  • Baking Soda 
  • Salt – Table salt is fine.
  • Sugar – Adding sugar is not traditional, so it’s an optional ingredient, but I enjoy the subtle sweetness when it’s added to the dough, especially if you’ve added dried fruit, too.
  • Buttermilk – You can make a buttermilk substitute with milk and an acid, like lemon juice or a neutral colored, unflavored vinegar. Real buttermilk is always preferred. See the pro-tips below for details on how to make a buttermilk substitute at home, if needed.
  • Dried Fruit – Currants are classic, but any dried fruit, like Cherries or Cranberries (affiliate links), will be a delicious addition. Chop if needed, for example, if using dried apricots.
Irish soda bread slice on a white ceramic plate.

How to Make

Irish Soda Bread Process Shots numbered 1, 2 with the dry ingredients with a whisk in a bowl, then the ingredients after they've been whisked to combine.
  1. Preheat the oven, grease the baking dish, then measure all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk the ingredients together until they’re well combined.
Irish Soda Bread Process Shots numbered 3.4.
  1. Add the buttermilk and mix until combined.
  2. Knead the dough on a floured surface for just a minute or so. Shape into a 6-inch ball, slice an X across the surface, then bake as directed.

Recipe Tips

  • My friend, Ann, recommends mixing the dough with your hands to give the bread a light and airy consistency. Her version also has a stick of butter and is quite tasty! Using a whisk is perfectly acceptable, too.
  • PRO-Tip: The dough should be well-blended, but not overworked. As with all quick breads (those using baking powder and/or baking soda instead of yeast), they will develop tunnels if over-mixed.
  • The dough should be heavy, but not too wet. If it seems too dry, you can add a bit more buttermilk.
  • I like to dust my hands with flour to shape the bread into round loaves.
  • Ann uses the wrong end of a fork to cut a deep X into the loaf. I used a sharp knife instead. This provides the classic look of homemade soda bread. It also helps the loaf to bake evenly.
  • PRO-Tip: Dusting the top with flour before slashing the loaf will make the X stand out.
  • Adding raisins is a traditional option, though one my family would not appreciate.
  • I’ve added dried cherries in the past, but I’m the only fan of those around here! Raisins are more traditional.
  • PRO-Tip: To make a buttermilk substitute, for each cup, measure out a cup of milk, but remove one tablespoon. Mix in a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, stir, and let rest so it thickens slightly. Whole milk is best, but you can use 2% in a pinch.
  • Bake your loaf in a cake pan or cast-iron skillet (the skillet will give a better rise).
  • PRO-Tip: Inserting a knife into the bread at the end of the baking time will tell you if your bread is done. It should come out clean if the bread is fully cooked.

Later, I made a second loaf, a half batch with the addition of ⅓ cup of dried cherries. Soda Bread with Raisins is a more traditional option, but I prefer cherries. This smaller Irish soda bread loaf was baked for 35 minutes. I hope you all had a marvelous St. Patrick’s Day. Erin Go Bragh!!!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do You Cut a Cross on Top of the Bread Dough?

In the 1800s, the cross on this Irish bread was thought to allow the Devil to escape from the bread as it baked. It’s also a symbol of giving thanks and protection of the home.

How Do You Know When Soda Bread is Done?

Use the recipe’s baking time for guidance. But also watch for the slash to expand and the crust to turn golden brown. You can also insert a metal skewer into the center. If the loaf is done, it will come out clean. It will also sound hollow when the bottom is tapped.

How Do You Slice Soda Bread?

After the loaf cools, use a serrated knife and slice your bread with a sawing motion to make the cleanest slices.

How Do You Serve Soda Bread?

Wait until your bread cools completely before serving.  Serve it plain, with butter, or with butter and jam, or marmalade. This loaf will serve 6-8, depending on the size of your slices.

How Do You Store Soda Bread?

Wrap it well and store your soda bread at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, foil, or in an airtight container. This bread tastes best on the day it is made, as its lack of fat makes it dry out quickly.

You May Also Like

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Slice of Irish Soda bread on a square white plate
The Recipe:

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield 6

A classic loaf of Irish soda bread!

5.0 Stars (36 Reviews)

Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (my addition, optional)
  • 2 cups buttermilk*
  • ⅓-1 cup dried cherries, optional

Instructions

  1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch pie plate or baking sheet.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt (and sugar if using). Whisk in the buttermilk until the dough comes together. Add dried cherries or other dried fruit, if using.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for a minute. It should be soft and malleable but not overworked.
  4. Pat it into a 6-inch dough ball and place it in the pan. Cut an X into the top.
  5. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown and the X has widened. Cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Recipe from Baking with Julia.

*If you do not have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk (less the one tablespoon). Let rest for a few minutes to let it thicken and curdle.

May add raisins, currants, dried cherries, or other chopped dried fruit to the bread dough.

Best eaten on the day it's baked.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 899mgCarbohydrates: 93gFiber: 3gSugar: 26gProtein: 12g

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: Irish / Category: Bread