St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

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St. Patrick’s Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe is one of those easy to make, 4-ingredient bread recipes that will have you coming back for more. So simple, no yeast & oh so delicious. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!

I originally had something else planned for today. But then I was given a little inspiration on Sunday & Monday that prompted me to dig into my Irish heritage & create something to get a little closer to it.

St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (1)

St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2)

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I decided that since I had never made Irish Soda Bread before I would give it a try. I pulled a few different recipes & then sort of compiled them into what would work for me & the ingredients I had on hand along with how I like to bake. The end result was so much better than expected. This has now become one of the easiest & most loved bread recipes we make.

Soda Bread Recipe

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St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (3)

This is so simple & we make it all the time- even when it’s not St. Patrick’s Day. The kids are loving it as toast (with the raspberry marmalade on it) for breakfast at the moment.

But it goes great on the side of meatloaf & mashed potatoes or with a hot bowl of soup. With just 4 ingredients & no yeast or rising time required, you can’t go wrong with this.

HOW DO YOU MAKE Irish Soda Bread?

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Lay a sheet of parchment paper over baking sheet. Set aside.
  3. Mix flour, salt & baking soda together in mixer bowl.
  4. Make a well in the center- pour in your buttermilk.
  5. Mix with the paddle attachment of your mixer or you can kneed in by hand until the dough is soft. Should be fairly wet but not sticky.
  6. Turn dough on lightly floured surface & kneed 3-4 times to smooth.
  7. Shape into flat circle – mine was about 1-2 inches thick but still flat in shape.
  8. Place on prepared parchment lined sheet & cut a cross from edge to edge on top.
  9. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden. When it sounds hollow when tapped- it’s ready.

St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (4)

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Soda Bread

I just love theartisanstyle of the round loaf. It looks so rustic & hearty.

Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe

To make this recipe you will need…

  • all-purpose flour
  • kosher or sea salt
  • baking soda
  • buttermilk

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St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (10)

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St. Patrick’s Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Course Side Dish

Servings: 1 loaf

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe is one of those easy to make, 4-ingredient bread recipes that will have you coming back for more. So simple, no yeast & oh so delicious. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 28 minutes mins

Total Time 38 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 3⅔ cup all-purpose flour plus a little more for dusting (if it still looks too wet after mixing, add more flour in 1/4 cup increments, adding no more than 1 additional cup total- mixing in between each addition.) Measure using the spoon & level method so you don't end up with too much.
  • 1 tsp kosher or sea salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • cup buttermilk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

  • Lay a sheet of parchment paper over the baking sheet. Set aside.

  • Mix the flour, salt & baking soda together in a large mixer bowl.

  • Make a well in the center- pour in the buttermilk.

  • Mix with the paddle attachment of your mixer or you can kneed in by hand until the dough is soft. Should be fairly wet but not sticky.

  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface & knead 3-4 times to smooth.

  • Shape into flat circle - mine was about 1-2 inches thick but still flat in shape.

  • Place on prepared the parchment lined sheet & cut a cross from edge to edge on top.

  • Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden. When it sounds hollow when tapped- it's ready.

Notes

**If you don't have buttermilk (which I didn't) you can put 1-3/4 tbsp vinegar in measuring cup & then fill the rest with regular milk until you reach 1-3/4 cup. Let sit for 5 minutes before mixing in.

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Taste of the Frontier cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Love this recipe?Follow @KleinworthCo for even more tasty recipes!


Reader Interactions

St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

How long can soda bread sit before baking? ›

(Some recipes call for yeast and kneading, but know this isn't required.) 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.

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 does my soda bread taste bitter? ›

In my experience, one of the things that puts people off soda bread is the bitter tang of bicarbonate of soda, so it's important to get the balance right: just enough to raise the bread, but not enough to taint the flavour.

Can you over knead Irish soda bread? ›

You spent too much time kneading the dough. Baking soda starts to react and release its gas as soon as it comes into contact with the sour milk. Take too long and the gas will escape before the bread is baked. Kneading will also cause chewy gluten to form.

What is good to put on 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.

What do you do if your Irish soda bread dough is too sticky? ›

If your dough is too sticky and it's impossible to work with you can add some extra flour, just a little at a time. Make sure you weigh the extra flour you add and then you'll be able to adjust the recipe correctly the next time you bake.

Should you toast Irish soda bread? ›

Although soda bread is ideal for serving at room temperature, it is better to serve it warm. The thick and cakey texture of the bread and warm temperature brings out its hearty flavors. If you can't have it fresh from the over at least have it toasted.

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

However, the two loaves differ pretty significantly from there. 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 long does Irish soda bread stay fresh? ›

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).

What is another name for Irish soda bread? ›

Spotted Dog/ Railway Cake— Different names are used in different parts of Ireland, but this recipe has the addition of raisins or currents to the dough, usually along with butter and sugar. Seedy Bread—Traditional Irish soda bread with the addition of caraway seeds and a little sugar.

At what internal temperature is Irish soda bread done? ›

Bake the bread for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean; the interior of the bread will measure 200°F to 210° on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the bread from the oven, loosen its edges, and after 5 minutes turn it out onto a rack to cool.

What consistency should soda bread be? ›

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. It's so good.

Can you over knead soda bread? ›

You do not want to over knead. Place the dough in a cast iron or baking sheet with parchment paper. With a sharp knife cut an “x” on the top of the dough. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and a tester comes out clean.

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