Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (2024)

  • Recipes
  • Holidays and Seasons
  • Spring
  • St. Patrick's Day

This easy Irish soda bread is ready in under an hour, start to finish.

By

Elise Bauer

Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated March 29, 2024

50 Ratings

Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (2)

In This Recipe

It appears everyone has their favorite Irish soda bread recipe. Some with caraway seeds, some with raisins, some with both, some with neither.

The essential ingredients in traditional Irish soda bread are flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. The acid in buttermilk reacts with the base of the baking soda to provide the bread's leavening. This leavening from buttermilk and baking soda is what gives the bread its name: "soda bread."

Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (3)

Why the Cross in the Center?

Why the cross in the center? Scoring the dough will help the heat reach the center of the loaf while baking and help it to rise evenly.

Ingredients for Irish Soda Bread

This soda bread is a slightly fancied up Americanized version of the Irish classic, with a little butter, sugar, an egg, and some currants or raisins added to the base. You can bake it in a cast iron frying pan (now that's traditional!) or on a regular baking sheet.

How to Accurately Measure Ingredients for BakingREAD MORE:

You can also make a simpler version without eggs or currants, with some caraway seeds, or you could turn your soda bread dough into biscuits.

Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (4)

How Long Does Irish Soda Bread Last?

Soda bread dries out quickly so it really is only good for a day or two. It is best eaten freshly baked and warm or toasted. Keep it wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.

That said, you can make it ahead and freeze it (let it cool to room temperature first). Wrap it tightly first in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. It will last up to 2 months frozen.

More Irish-Style Breads to Make

  • Caraway Soda Bread
  • Oatmeal Soda Bread
  • Soda Bread Biscuits
  • Irish Brown Bread
  • Guinness Bread with Molasses

Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (5)

What Is Traditional Irish Soda Bread?

Traditionally, bread in Ireland was made in a skillet because the wheat that grew there was what's called "soft" wheat, which contained less gluten than its counterparts in America. The domestic Irish wheat didn't interact well with yeast and did not rise very well.

Hence, the introduction of baking soda as a leavening agent, which reacts with the buttermilk to form small carbon dioxide bubbles, approximating the chemical reaction of yeast.

What we consider traditional Irish bread came about because of the Native Americans, who used a sort of wood ash as a leavening agent to make bread without yeast. This method of making bread was introduced to Ireland in the 1830s.

Different types of soda bread are popular throughout Ireland, but all of them are pretty simple, everyday breads. They were found in every household to mop up stews or to enjoy with a cup of tea. The Northern Irish divide their dough into 4 triangles, while the Southerners made theirs round with a cross shape on top. Here in America, we also like to add ingredients like caraway seeds, currants, raisins, or honey. Modern Irish soda breads might contain nuts, orange zest, or even Guinness.

Buttermilk Substitutions

There are only a few ingredients in this soda bread recipe, so it's best if made with real buttermilk. However, there are a few buttermilk substitutions that work well and will still react with the baking soda to make the bread rise. Kefir works especially well, or you can thin yogurt to the consistency of buttermilk using plain milk.

You can also acidify milk with lemon juice or white vinegar. Add 2 scant tablespoons to a measuring cup and top with whole milk to make 1 3/4 cups total. Stir and let sit for a few minutes until the mixture curdles, then proceed with the recipe as written.

5 Substitutes for Buttermilk READ MORE:

What to Serve with Irish Soda Bread

  • Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Irish Beef Stew
  • Irish Lamb Stew with Bacon
  • Healthy Shepherd's Pie

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Irish Soda Bread

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time55 mins

Servings12 servings

Yield1 loaf

Ingredients

  • 4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 4 tablespoons butter,cubed and slightly softened

  • 1 cup currants or raisins

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients:

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk 4 cups of the flour together with the sugar, salt, and baking soda.

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (6)

  3. Work in the butter and add the currants:

    Using your (clean) fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Then add in the currants or raisins.

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (7)

  4. Add the egg and buttermilk:

    Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add the beaten egg and buttermilk to the well and mix in with a wooden spoon until the dough is too stiff to stir.

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (8)

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (9)

  5. Form the dough:

    Use floured hands to gently gather the dough into a rough ball shape. The dough will be soft and sticky. If it is more like a batter than a dough, add up to 1/2 cup more flour until you have a sticky, shaggy dough.

    Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and shape into into a round loaf. Note that the dough will be a little sticky, and quite shaggy (a little like a shortcake biscuit dough).

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (10)

    You want to work it just enough so the flour is just moistened and the dough just barely comes together. Shaggy is good. If you over-work the dough the bread will end up tough.

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (11)

  6. Score with an X:

    Transfer the dough to a large, lightly greased cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet (It will flatten out a bit in the pan or on the baking sheet).

    Using a serrated knife, score the top of dough about an inch and a half deep in an "X" shape. The purpose of the scoring is to help heat get into the center of the dough while it cooks.

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (12)

  7. Bake until golden:

    Transfer to the oven and bake at 425°F until the bread is golden and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 35 to 45 minutes. (If you use a cast iron pan, it may take a little longer as it takes longer for the pan to heat up than a baking sheet.)

    If the top is getting too dark while baking, tent the bread with some aluminum foil. Check for doneness also by inserting a long, thin skewer into the center. If it comes out clean, it's done.

    Tip

    If you use a cast iron skillet to cook the bread in the oven, be very careful when you take the pan out. It's easy to forget that the handle is extremely hot. Be sure to put a pot holder over it.

  8. Cool, slice, and serve:

    Remove the pan or sheet from the oven, and let the bread sit in the pan or on the sheet for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, remove to a rack to cool briefly.

    Serve the bread warm, at room temperature, or sliced and toasted. Best when eaten warm and just baked.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (13)

  • St. Patrick's Day
  • Bread
  • Easy Baking
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
263Calories
5g Fat
47g Carbs
7g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories263
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g6%
Saturated Fat 3g14%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 387mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 47g17%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 1mg5%
Calcium 62mg5%
Iron 3mg15%
Potassium 218mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Easy Irish Soda Bread in Under an Hour (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Irish bread and Irish soda bread? ›

Irish brown bread has a deep, nutty flavor because of its wheat flour and wheat bran while soda bread uses only white flour. Soda bread is slightly sweet and more scone-like while Irish brown bread is more savory with a tender interior.

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. Let the bread cool.

Should you refrigerate Irish soda bread? ›

Tightly wrap your leftover bread and place it in an airtight container. There's no need to refrigerate. As for how long soda bread lasts: Irish soda bread tends to dry out faster than other breads. The bread will be good for 3-4 days or up to three months if frozen.

Why is my Irish soda bread gummy? ›

And finally, don't immediately cut into the Fast Irish Soda bread when you pull it out of the oven. Although this bread is best served warm, cutting into it too quickly will turn the bread gummy.

What do Irish people eat with soda bread? ›

How to Eat Irish Soda Bread. This versatile bread works for any meal, but Irish soda bread is a natural for breakfast, whether simply spread with (Irish) butter and jam or alongside that hearty fry-up known as a full Irish breakfast. It's also wonderful with a cup of tea in the afternoon or as a late-night snack.

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 Irish soda bread unhealthy? ›

Nutrition Notes

Whole-wheat soda bread is a healthy addition to your plate! One serving—a 1/2-inch-thick slice—provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

Why does my homemade soda bread fall apart when I slice it? ›

Your Bread Did Not Cool Before Slicing

The primary reason for this is that the bread is still baking inside. The crust has trapped enough steam inside the loaf to continue working magic and create a great crumb. If you let that steam out too soon, the loaf will be drier.

Why is my soda bread wet in the middle? ›

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).

What do the Irish call 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.

Should Irish soda bread dough be sticky? ›

Note that the dough will be a little sticky, and quite shaggy (a little like a shortcake biscuit dough). You want to work it just enough so the flour is just moistened and the dough just barely comes together. Shaggy is good. If you over-work the dough the bread will end up tough.

Why do people eat Irish soda bread? ›

When was soda bread first created? This simple Irish classic is a staple in many households, used to mop up hearty stews and wash down pots of tea. It's also a symbol of celebration, baked in droves in the lead up to Saint Patrick's Day.

How to tell if soda bread is cooked? ›

Bake for 30-35 minutes until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If it isn't ready after this time, turn it upside down on the baking sheet and bake for a few minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack, cover with a clean tea towel (this keeps the crust nice and soft) and leave to cool.

Is Irish soda bread supposed to be heavy? ›

The best Irish soda bread, like this recipe, has a golden brown crust with a dense, tight crumb. The bread isn't heavy, it's actually quite tender and soft inside. The crust is nice and crisp when it comes out of the oven and becomes a little chewy on day 2 and 3.

What consistency should soda bread dough be? ›

The oldest recipe for soda bread, widely syndicated from Ireland's Newry Times in 1836, says the dough was "as soft as could possibly be handled...the softer the better." Thirteen years and 180 miles down the road, the Waterford Times described it as "wetter than pie crust, too stiff to pour, but not stiff enough to ...

Why do they call it Irish soda bread? ›

In the United States, "Irish soda bread" generally means a somewhat sweet white bread made with eggs and butter and studded with raisins and caraway seeds — the "soda" in the name comes from the baking soda (or "bread soda" in Ireland) used to leaven it instead of yeast and kneading.

What is the difference between bread and soda bread? ›

Sourdough relies on a mix of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria, rather than baker's yeast, to leaven the dough. It's richer in nutrients, less likely to spike your blood sugar, contains lower amounts of gluten, and is generally easier to digest than bread made with baker's yeast.

Is Irish soda bread better for you? ›

Nutrition Notes

Whole-wheat soda bread is a healthy addition to your plate! One serving—a 1/2-inch-thick slice—provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

Why does Irish soda bread not need yeast? ›

The baking soda does the job of yeast and makes the bread rise. Since it's not as powerful as yeast, the bread is dense rather than fluffy. It's beautiful and delicious!

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