World's Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe! (2024)

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Sweet Irish Soda Bread recipe has agolden, crunchy, sweet crust with a moist, buttermilk interior, and tangy cranberries dotted throughout. The best soda bread mixes up in minutes and includes easy gluten-free adaptations!

World's Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe! (1)

Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe!

Sweet Soda Bread was the only Irish soda bread recipe I ate growing up, so I assumed all versions were equally yummy. Turns out, not so much.

During college I celebratedSt. Patrick’s Day the way any collegiate would – drinking lots of green beer.

But I wasn’t a complete heathen. The night had to start with proper meal atan Irish pub.

When the server placed the Irish Soda Bread on the table I happily dug in, forewarning my friends to get ready for the best, moist, goodness ever.

I immediately spit it out, swearing to my friends I would make them”real” Irish soda bread so they could experiencewhat bread heaven tastes like.

Turns out the recipe I grew up on wasn’t exactly from the old country. You see, Mom used asmidgenmore sugar than traditional recipes.

Hence, why we counted down the days to the St. Patrick’s meal growing up. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on two of my mom’s most anticipated recipes – Irish Soda Bread dotted with raisins or dried cranberries and her Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage with apple juice .

What is Irish Soda Bread?

Irish soda bread typically has a hard crust with a tangy, moist interior. It’s considered a quick bread because baking soda is used to leaven the bread instead of yeast.

Soured milk or buttermilk is used to activate the baking soda.

The region of Ireland determines the shape of the bread. Irish Soda Bread can be a round loaf, triangular shapes, or flattened discs.

Sweet soda bread recipes, like this one, will taste differently than traditional Irish soda bread. It’s extremely moist, more sweet tasting and cake-like. None of these things are a bad thing in my book!

How to Make Sweet Irish Soda Bread

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

This easy soda bread recipe requires no yeast, kneading or baking expertise! Better yet, it may be made with traditional or gluten-free flour to make a yummy gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe.

Find the step-by-step pictures below or go to this visual web story of how to make Irish soda bread.

World's Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe! (3)
  1. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Make a well in the middle by pushing the dry ingredients from the middle of the bowl.
  3. Whisk together liquid ingredients – melted butter, buttermilk, and egg.
  4. Pour the liquid ingredients into the flour mixture and stir together.
  5. Add the dried cranberries (or raisins) and mix until no flour pockets remain. The dough will be thick, so sometimes I briefly knead with my hands in the bowl.
  6. Place in buttered cast iron pan, 9-inch round cake pan, or baking sheet. Slash the top with a sharp knife and bake in a 350ºF oven for 1 hour.

Why is there a cross on Soda Bread?

Traditionally a cross was slashed on the top of the bread to ward off the devil and protect the household from bad spirits.

However, since Sweet Irish Soda Bread contains an ample amount of baking powder, the slash also helps the bread to rise rapidly without cracking.

Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

Lucky for those of you on a gluten-free diet. This bread can be transformed into the best gluten-free Irish soda bread as well!

Traditional Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread, meaning no yeast or rest is needed for it to rise. These types of breads work wonderfully when substituting gluten-free flour.

Substituting a quality gluten-free flour, such as Cup4Cup makes a gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe so good no one knows the difference. Instead of making separate loaves for my family and myself, we all enjoy the gluten-free recipe with just as much gusto!

Learn more about the best gluten-free flours, and see which ones work well for baking breads, or discover more gluten-free bread recipes in this free resource!

freezing and storing

Store leftovers, well wrapped, at room temperature up to two days. Avoid refrigerating the bread because it will dry out.

Since this soda bread recipe is extremely hard to ignore, I’m glad it this bread freezes very well!

Once the bread has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and transfer to a freezer bag.

Alternatively, cool it completely, slice, and then transfer to a freezer bag. This allows you to grab and thaw slices as needed.

What to Serve with Irish Soda Bread

If you are looking for what to serve with soda bread, the most perfect accompaniment is corned beef and cabbage, of course!

Check out this game-changing Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage flavored with apple, brown sugar, and whole grain mustard. But, if you’d rather cook the cabbage separately, try Crispy Roasted Cabbage Steaks recipe instead.

This recipe is so addicting, though, many home cooks make it year round, not just for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s wonderful served warm with butter and jam for breakfast or serve alongside Irish stew, baked potato soup, or it makes an easy side dish to serve with shepherd’s pie.

World's Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe! (4)

baking pan options for irish soda bread

If you don’t own a cast iron skillet, no problem! This bread may be baked in a variety of pans.

The easiest substitution for a cast iron skillet is a round cake pan. Grease a 9-inch cake pan and shape the dough into a ball in the middle. As the bread bakes, the dough will spread and fill out the pan.

A baking sheet may also be used. Simply shape the dough into ball in the middle of a greased baking sheet, or line with parchment paper. The dough will spread slightly, but it will still maintain its ball shape.

Some readers have also split the dough between two bread loaf pans. If diving the dough, the baking time will decrease. Start checking around 35 minutes baking time.

Substitution for Buttermilk

Irish soda bread made with buttermilk gives a creamy, tangy taste and moist interior. Also, according to Fine Cooking, buttermilk adds acidity, which keeps bake goods moist and tender by breaking down gluten.

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, save yourself a trip to the store. It can easily be made at home in five minutes!

  1. Pour 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup.
  2. Add milk until you have 1 1/3 cup total liquid.
  3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, stir, and then use.

More baking tips and modifications

  • Instead of cranberries substitute raisins, dried cherries or leave the dried fruit out completely.
  • For an added hint of orange add 1 tablespoon orange zest with the wet ingredients.
  • Adjust the amount sugar for personal taste.
  • When baking gluten-free Irish soda bread, the baking time will increase by 5-10 minutes.
  • For an authentic add-in, substitute raisins and add 2 teaspoons caraway seeds.

Click here to see thestep-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!

World's Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe! (5)

more the best Bread Recipes

  • Blueberry Zucchini Bread
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bread
  • Bacon Maple Cornbread
  • Fluffy Gluten Free Biscuits

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Sweet Irish Soda Bread (Extra Moist)

Sweet Irish Soda Bread recipe has agolden, crunchy, sweet crust with a moist, buttermilk interior, and tangy cranberries dotted throughout. The best soda bread mixes up in minutes and includes easy gluten-free adaptations!

4.61 from 284 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Melissa Erdelac

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease a cast iron skillet or 9-inch round pan with butter. (See recipe notes for other options.)

  • Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center by pushing the dry ingredients away from the center.

    4 cups all purpose flour or gluten-free flour,1 cup granulated sugar,1 teaspoon baking soda,1 teaspoon baking powder,¼ teaspoon salt

  • In a small bowl whisk together the melted and cooled butter, buttermilk, and egg.

    ⅓ cup unsalted butter,1⅓ cup buttermilk,1 egg

  • Add the liquid ingredients to the dry, pouring it into the well and stir to form a soft dough. The dough will be very thick and might need to be kneaded slightly to work in the flour. Add the cranberries. Mix or knead until no flour pockets remain.

    ¾ cup dried cranberries

  • Shape dough into a ball (use lightly wet fingers if dough is sticky) and transfer to the prepared pan. Use a sharp knife to make an "X" on top of the the ball.

  • Bake until set, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Insert a knife or toothpick in the middle to make sure it's set. To prevent the bread from becoming overly brown, loosely tent foil over top for the last 10-15 minutes baking time. Baking times can be longer, depend on the size of pan you bake it in and if using gluten-free flour, which takes longer.

  • DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? DON'T FORGET TO GIVE IT A STAR RATING AND COMMENT BELOW!

COOKBOOK SALE!Get 30% OFF this Gluten-Free Digital Cookbook Bundle, essential GF breads, desserts, and lunch recipes!

LET’S BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM!Follow @mamagourmand and tag me in the recipe pic!

Recipe Notes

baking pan options

The easiest substitution for a cast iron skillet is a round cake pan. Grease a 9-inch cake pan and shape the dough into a ball in the middle. As the bread bakes, the dough will spread and fill out the pan.

A baking sheet may also be used. Simply shape the dough into ball in the middle of a greased baking sheet, or line with parchment paper. The dough will spread slightly, but it will still maintain its ball shape.

Some readers have also split the dough between two bread loaf pans. If diving the dough, the baking time will decrease. Start checking around 35 minutes baking time.

Substitution for Buttermilk

  1. Pour 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup.
  2. Add milk until you have 1 1/3 cup total liquid.
  3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, stir, and then use.

More baking tips and modifications

  • Instead of cranberries substitute raisins, dried cherries, or leave the dried fruit out completely.
  • For an added hint of orange add 1 tablespoon orange zest with the wet ingredients.
  • Adjust the amount sugar for personal taste.
  • When baking gluten-free Irish soda bread, the baking time will increase by 5-10 minutes.
  • For an authentic add-in, substitute raisins and add 2 teaspoons caraway seeds.

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Bread

Categories: Baking Breads Fall Freezer-Friendly Gluten Free Recipes Spring St. Patrick’s Day Summer Winter

This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you. Read full disclosure policyhere.

World's Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Irish soda bread less dense? ›

If you feel like you have to knead the dough together, don't knead more than 5-6 times, max. Too much kneading will create a hard dense crumb on the bread. Rule of thumb with no yeast breads, the less kneading the softer the crumb.

Why does my Irish soda bread not rise? ›

Buttermilk is key to the bread's flavor, texture, and rise. The bread will not rise without it. If you don't have any buttermilk on hand, you can make a homemade “DIY” version. Whole milk or 2% milk is best, though lower fat or nondairy milks work in a pinch.

Why is my Irish soda bread so dry? ›

It's important to remember no to overmix your ingredients. Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread, similar to a scone, but can easily become dry if overmixed. Quickly add the wet ingredients to a well you've made in the dry ingredients, and mix with your hands or a dough hook until it just comes together.

Is there a difference between soda bread and Irish soda bread? ›

Sweeter Soda Bread

On this side of the Atlantic, what we call "Irish soda bread" is more rich and sweet, usually studded with raisins and caraway seeds.

How can I make my bread lighter and fluffy? ›

All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result. Using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten works to improve the texture and elasticity of the dough and elongate the strands of gluten. Doing so allows more room for the gas in the dough to develop and rise.

What happens if you put too much baking soda in soda bread? ›

It's important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.

What went wrong with my soda bread? ›

If you've ever tried Irish soda bread and not liked it, don't go running off yet! Chances are good that the bread you ate suffered from one of three common problems: improper amount of baking soda (a gross, salty-bitter taste), over cooking (a dry, chalky texture), or undercooking (a soggy, doughy center).

Why is my Irish soda bread raw in the middle? ›

Your oven is too hot if it is uncooked in the center. Try lowering the temp on your oven by 25F and extending the bake time. Don't put anything on the top of the bread to aid in browning until the last few min. of cooking, and use an instant read thermometer (target temp to pull is 190F).

Can you leave soda bread dough overnight? ›

You don't have to wait hours or overnight for a rise, either. In fact, you don't even need to wait at all: Dough for Irish soda bread can go right into the oven after making.

How do you know when Irish soda bread is done baking? ›

Cover and bake until well risen and golden, 45 minutes. Remove lid and continue baking until chestnut brown, with an internal temperature of 210°F (99°C), 12 to 15 minutes longer.

How do you know when Irish soda bread is done? ›

The most traditional doneness test calls for thumping the hot bread in the center to hear if it's hollow-sounding. A more foolproof indication is temperature; the loaf will register 200°F to 205°F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted in the center of the bread.

Should Irish soda bread dough be sticky? ›

You're looking for a dough that's soft but not overly sticky or wet, and that holds together enough to make a loaf that can hold its shape on the sheet pan. If the dough is dry and crumbly, add up to 1/2 cup additional buttermilk, a tablespoon or so at a time, until it comes together.

Do people in Ireland eat Irish soda bread? ›

Ireland, for one, has embraced it's kind of bread – the soda bread. It is a basic staple among the Irish that they call it Irish Soda Bread. It's common to see the locals pair this famous bread with a bottle of Guinness too.

Which is better sourdough or soda bread? ›

Both types of bread use flour and contain refined carbohydrates. Sourdough bread would be considered healthier in the fact that it is a fermented food with lower gluten levels, making it easier to digest.

What is another name for Irish soda bread? ›

In Ulster, the wholemeal variety is usually known as wheaten bread and is normally sweetened, while the term "soda bread" is restricted to the white savoury form. In the southern provinces of Ireland, the wholemeal variety is usually known as brown bread and is almost identical to the Ulster wheaten.

Is Irish soda bread supposed to be dense? ›

Irish soda bread is an easy quick bread that has a soft, dense interior with a perfect crusty exterior. It pairs well with a nice hearty meal or as a side to a traditional Irish celebration.

How do I stop my bread from being dense? ›

Getting the amount of flour right is vital due to the high flour ratio to the other bread ingredients. Measuring one or two tablespoons too much per cup (easy to do) can cause your bread to be dense.

Why is my soda bread doughy? ›

Chances are good that the bread you ate suffered from one of three common problems: improper amount of baking soda (a gross, salty-bitter taste), over cooking (a dry, chalky texture), or undercooking (a soggy, doughy center).

Should soda bread be heavy? ›

Irish soda bread is simple to prepare bread that uses baking soda as a leavening agent to help it rise. It has few ingredients and bakes in under 45 minutes for an incredibly flavorful loaf. Soda bread typically is very dense and heavy, which will fill you up quickly.

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