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    Home » Recipes » Breads and Grains » Irish Soda Bread

    Published: Nov 8, 2019 Modified: Jun 10, 2023 by Catherine Arena Leave a Comment

    Irish Soda Bread

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    Irish Soda Bread is delicious and one of the easiest breads to make.  Just 4 ingredients and zero rising time, makes this bread perfect to make any day of the week.  Perfect with butter, jelly, for sandwiches or dunking in stews. 

    Irish Soda Bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

    With the holidays around the corner, I will be sharing more bread and dessert recipes and it doesn’t get any easier than this Irish Soda Bread!

    With just four ingredients, zero waiting time for the dough to rise and barely any need to knead the dough, this bread is hyper simple to make.

    It just doesn’t get any easier than that!

    Ingredients for Irish Soda Bread

    • 4 cups flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    History of Irish Soda Bread

    Although you will see many different soda bread recipes on the internet that include butter, seeds and or dried fruits it’s originally made with just these four ingredients.

    This table bread was first introduced in the 1800’s when virtually no one had an oven.  It was perfect for the time, due to the fact that it could be cooked in a “bastible” (a cast iron pot with a lid) over coals.

    It was simply made and eaten with meals or sliced and served with butter.

    The addition of seeds, raisins, currants or other dried fruits would have been considered a luxury item and added as a treat for the working men or on special occasions.

    The famous “cross” cut on top of the bread is said to rid the “devil” out of the bread however it serves a more culinary purpose. 😄  The cross or “X” allows the bread to cook evenly by allowing the heat to reach the thickest part of the bread.

    What is Special About Irish Bread?

    Unlike so many breads, Irish bread does not need yeast!

    It is a bread known for its magical properties because it is able to rise in the oven without any yeast.

    The buttermilk and baking soda causes a baking reaction that allows the bread to rise all on its own.

    How perfect is that!

    I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to make bread only to realize I ran out of yeast!  No need to worry about that with this bread!!

    This bread bakes with a perfect crust and a dense center making it perfect for pastrimi, cornbeef and roast beef sandwiches.

    It is also great with just butter, jam, jelly and dunking in stews.

    Irish Soda Bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

    How to Make this Yummy Bread

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
    2. Sift the flour.
    3. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
    4. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the buttermilk.
    5. With your hands mix the buttermilk and flour just until it comes together.  Do not over mix or the bread will come out tough.
    Ingredients to make Irish Soda Bread.
    Buttermilk added to the flour in a bowl.
    Dough mixed in a bowl for the bread.
    1. Once dough has come together, lightly knead dough into a round form for about 10 seconds.  (Do not over knead or bread will come out tough)
    2. Lightly flour a baking sheet, casserole or a cast iron skillet.
    3. Add dough ball to the baking sheet, casserole or cast iron skillet.
    4. Cut an X on top of dough, a quarter of an inch deep.  (This helps the bread cook evenly in the center)
    5. Bake for 45 minutes.
    6. Bread is fully cooked when tapped on the bottom and it sounds hollow.

    Note:  Each oven is different and bread may cook in less time or need more time so adjust accordingly.  Also if the top of your bread starts to darken early in the cooking stage, simply top a piece of aluminum foil to prevent it from turning to dark or burning.

    Ball of dough in a large bowl, ready to be baked.
    A floured cast iron skillet with a ball of dough ready to bake.
    An X cut onto the top of dough. Dough is in a cast iron skillet.

    Once done, bread will be a beautiful golden color and have a beautiful crust.

    How to Serve Irish Soda Bread

    If you like, slice and serve warm with butter.

    Or allow bread to cool, slice and use to make sandwiches.

    You can also slice into larger pieces and serve with a stew.

    Make sure to enjoy this bread within 2 days as it will start to harden.

    How to Store Irish Soda Bread

    You can make this bread ahead of time and freeze if you like until ready to be enjoyed.

    Once bread has cooled, wrapped in saran wrap well and then in aluminum foil.

    Store bread for up to 2 months in the freezer.

    Irish Soda Bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

    For more delicious bread or dough ideas, you will also love these:

    Deliciously Moist Avocado Bread

    Pastelitos de Carne (Puff Pastry with Meat Filling)

    Day of the Dead Bread

    Cheesy Chicken Poblano Panecillos

    Easy Empanadilla Dough (Masa Para Empanadillas)

    📖 Recipe

    Irish Soda Bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

    Irish Soda Bread

    Irish Soda Bread is delicious and one of the easiest breads to make.  Just 4 ingredients and zero rising time, makes this bread perfect to make any day of the week.  Perfect with butter, jelly, for sandwiches or dunking in stews. 

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Bread, Sides
    Cuisine: Irish
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 520kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups flour sifted
    • 1 teaspoon backing soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1¾ cups buttermilk

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

    • Sift the flour into a large bowl.
      Add the baking soda and salt to the flour and mix.
    • Make a well in the center of the flour and add the buttermilk.
      Using your hands mix the buttermilk and flour just until it comes together.  Do not over mix or the bread will come out tough.
    • Once dough has come together, lightly knead dough into a round form for about 10 seconds.  (Do not over knead or bread will come out tough)
      Lightly flour a baking sheet, casserole or a cast iron skillet.
      Add dough ball to the baking sheet, casserole or cast iron skillet.

    • Cut an X on top of dough, a quarter of an inch deep.  (This helps the bread cook evenly in the center)
      Bake for 45 minutes.
      Bread is fully cooked when you tap on the bottom and the bread sounds hollow.
      Note:  Each oven is different and bread may cook in less time or need more time so adjust accordingly.  Also if the top of your bread starts to darken early in the cooking stage, simply top a piece of aluminum foil to prevent it from turning to dark or burning.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4 | Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 101g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 694mg | Potassium: 276mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 173IU | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

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