Traditional Irish Soda Bread

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September 27, 2023March 7, 2018 by Malinda Linnebur

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

Round loaf of Traditional Irish Soda Bread wrapped in a towel.

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

Slice of traditional Irish soda bread with butter.

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!

Top down view of a round loaf of Traditional Irish Soda Bread.

FAQs

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 THIS SODA BREAD?

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.

CAN YOU FREEZE IRISH SODA BREAD?

Yes, cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil or place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature overnight.

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.

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