Traditional Irish Soda Bread

This Traditional Irish Soda Bread recipe only requires 4 ingredients! It doesn’t use yeast, so it’s simple to make!

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

How many of you have ever had a loaf of Traditional Irish Soda Bread??? How many of you only eat it around St. Patrick’s Day?? 

Fun fact: this easy Irish soda bread recipe is a really good bread that is dense, moist, and delicious. So while you can serve it for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s fantastic with soups and other main courses.

A few other really easy to make bread recipes I have are: Beer Bread (so good!!), Buttermilk Cornbread (my favorite!), and Garlic Cheddar Biscuits (we make these all the time).

Why You’ll Love This Irish Soda Bread With Buttermilk

• Only 4 simple ingredients
• Less than 1 hour to make
• No need to rise the dough
• Great for parties
• Delicious

A little authentic Irish Soda Bread history:

I want to give you just a few interesting facts about Irish Soda Bread with buttermilk. Don’t worry I won’t bore you — it’s only a few!

• The cross that is slashed into the dough before baking was made to ward off devils and protect the house. It also helps the center of the bread bake all the way through, so it’s very important not to skip that step!
• During the mid-1800s, the Irish were making so much soda bread that baking soda almost doubled in price!
• Soda bread was served as an inexpensive way to put bread on the table.
• Authentic Irish soda bread should only contain 4 ingredients: flour, buttermilk, salt, and of course, baking soda.

Ingredients

• Buttermilk – is what gives this easy Irish soda bread recipe its flavor. I prefer to use whole buttermilk, but use what you can find. You can also make your own buttermilk by pouring 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or fresh (not bottled) lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Fill with whole milk or 2% to the 2-cup line. (I don’t recommend using anything less than 2% for this recipe.) Let stand 5-10 minutes before using.
• Baking soda – replaces the yeast, which makes this bread very easy to make. It reacts with the buttermilk and makes the bread rise.
• Salt – also provides flavor to the loaf of bread.
• Flour – traditionally soft white wheat flour was used in Ireland.

These 4 ingredients create an authentic Irish soda bread that I feel tastes similar to buttermilk biscuits or scones. The loaf is dense, slightly sour from the buttermilk, and has a hard crust. It’s perfect to pair with soups and stews, but I also like it warm and slathered with butter!

What to serve with this Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe:

• Serve it warm and fresh from the oven with pats of butter.
• Use it for breakfast as toast with jam or put a poached or fried egg on top.
• Its denser texter and thicker crust make it pair beautifully with soups and stews.

Can I add other ingredients to this easy Irish soda bread recipe?

Sure! While it won’t be traditional if you add other ingredients, it’s a fun way to incorporate new flavors. Here are some ideas:

• Raisins
• Lemon Zest
• Orange Zest
• Sugar
• Honey
• Dried Cranberries

How do you store Irish soda bread with buttermilk?

For best results, let the bread cool all the way. Then wrap and place in a sealed container. It can be kept at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Additionally, it can be frozen for up to 3 months.

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4.74 from 15 votes

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Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Traditional Irish Soda Bread- this Irish Soda Bread recipe only requires 4 ingredients! It doesn't use yeast so it's simple to make!

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: soda bread

Servings: 1 loaf (6-8 servings)

Calories: 3634 kcal

Author: Malinda Linnebur

Ingredients

• 4 cups (580g) all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (470ml) cold buttermilk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C).  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease well; set aside.  You can also use an 8″ cake pan or oven proof skillet.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Stir in the buttermilk just until combined and it starts to become too stiff to stir.  Transfer to work surface and with floured hands lightly knead the dough 5-10 times or until all the flour is moistened and the dough comes together.  

3. Form dough into an 8″ round.  Place on prepared pan and with a very sharp knife cut a 1/4″ deep X on the top.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.  

Recipe Notes

1. This bread is best served shortly after baking but can be stored at room temperature tightly wrapped for 2-3 days.  Can also be frozen for 2-3 months. 
2. Buttermilk is vital to the flavor and texture in this recipe and cannot be replaced with plain milk.  However, you can make your own buttermilk by pouring 2 tablespoons white vinegar or fresh (not bottled) lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.  Fill with whole milk or 2%.  (I don’t recommend using anything less than 2% for this recipe.)  Let stand 5-10 minutes before using.  
3. Nutrition Facts: Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate. Nutrition information is for the entire loaf. 

Nutrition Facts

Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Amount Per Serving

Calories 3634 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 19mg6%

Sodium 4483mg195%

Potassium 1727mg49%

Carbohydrates 745g248%

Fiber 26g108%

Sugar 25g28%

Protein 113g226%

Vitamin A 222IU4%

Vitamin C 5mg6%

Calcium 691mg69%

Iron 44mg244%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate.