This recipe for Irish soda bread is a classic favorite for St. Patrick’s day or any other time of the year! My version is slightly sweet and made with eggs, butter, and buttermilk to keep it tender and rich.
Raisins are optional, but I’m a big fan of raisins in bread, particularly if I’m going to be enjoying it for breakfast. This Irish Soda recipe is delicious spread with Kerrygold butter and served with a hot cup of coffee in the morning.
This Irish soda bread is slightly sweet, with a crisp outer crust and a somewhat dense yet soft and airy texture. You’re going to love it!
If you’re interested in more easy quick bread recipes, check out my rich Peanut Butter Bread, or classic Banana Bread. You can also use your bread machine to make a delicious Thyme Bread Loaf or Oatmeal Bread!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Traditional Irish-American Recipe: A true Irish Soda bread is an unsweetened bread without any sugar or eggs. This recipe is more in line with the way that Irish American families have adjusted the recipe over the years, and might remind you of something your grandmother made!
- A St. Patrick’s Day Treat: The one day a year that we can all celebrate with delicious Irish Food and festivities is a great day to enjoy this Irish treat! That said, Irish Soda bread is delicious any other time of the year as well.
- Quick Bread: The easy recipe for Irish Soda Bread is most similar to an English scone recipe. There is no yeast needed and the ingredients mix up quickly all in one bowl. All of the rise that this bread gets comes from baking soda, and a bit of baking powder too. That’s why it’s called soda bread.
If you’re looking for a bread recipe to make with yeast, try my breadmaker bread recipe, or these delicious Texas Roadhouse rolls.
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is the main ingredient in this and most other bread recipes.
- Baking powder, baking soda, and salt: Baking soda and baking powder allow this bread to rise perfectly. A bit of salt balances out the sweetness.
- Sugar: My version of Irish soda bread is slightly sweeter than you may have had before. I think that this makes it perfect for breakfast or snacking.
- Butter: For this recipe, you should use cold butter, cut into cubes. We will use a pastry cutting method to incorporate the butter into the mixture, which gives the bread lots of air pockets when it bakes. Or you can do that using a standmixer.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk adds a specific tangy and rich flavor to Irish soda bread, and gives it the perfect tender texture.
- Egg: Let your egg come to room temperature before you start mixing. This will help it incorporate into the dough more easily.
- Raisins or Currents: These are optional, but add interest and extra sweetness.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread
- Get Ready: Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can bake this in a cast iron pan.
- Make the Dough: In a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl), combine flour with sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, and butter. Mix until the butter pieces are the size of a pea. Combine buttermilk with egg, and stir that in until a shaggy dough forms. Stir in the raisins and do not overmix the dough.
- Shape the Irish Soda Bread Loaf: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead to shape it into a tall ball about 7 inches in diameter. You may want to add more flour if the dough is sticky. Transfer the ball to a baking sheet, then score the dough ball with a sharp knife to create a cross or X in the center. The cuts should be about ¾ inch deep and 3 to 4 inches long.
- Bake: Bake for 45-50 minutes or until it’s golden brown and done. When you tap, you should hear a hollow sound and that’s how you know that the bread is done.
- Serve: Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tip!
No mixer? You can make this bread in a bowl. Use a pastry cutter to mix it all together!
Irish Soda Bread Tips
- Scoring the Bread is Important: If you don’t score an X into the bread before baking, the loaf won’t be able to rise as much and you’ll end up with a very dense final product.
- For a More Traditional Flavor: Add about ¼ cup of caraway seeds into the dough!
- Buttermilk is Key: This is probably the most important ingredient. It’s what gives Irish soda bread that specific tangy and rich flavor that you love.
- Don’t overmix: This is a delicate recipe that will not benefit from overmixing. Mix as little as possible, just to combine the ingredients to keep the soda bread light and fluffy.
What to Serve with Irish Soda Bread
Are you planning a St. Patrick’s Day feast? You are going to want to try some of these Irish-inspired recipes.
Corned Beef and Cabbage: My recipe for Instant Pot Corned Beef is the easiest way to make a flavorful Irish brisket roast with all of the fixings, including cabbage, carrots, and potatoes!
If you’d rather make a stew than a roast, try this recipe for Irish Lamb Stew. It’s ready in an hour and the perfect bowl of comfort food. Serve it over Colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes with greens).
Looking for green food for St. Patrick’s Day? Make Green Tea Waffles for breakfast, or a sweet Shamrock Shake for dessert!
FAQs
Buttermilk in this recipe adds flavor as well as creates a tender crumb and moist texture. I suggest that you use it as called for, but if you can’t find it, there’s an easy substitution. Simply mix 1 ½ tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice with a scant 1 ½ cup of milk. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, and then use in the Irish Soda Bread recipe. Another easy buttermilk substitute is kefir.
The dried fruit is optional, so if you aren’t a fan, you can leave the raisins out. You can also try dried currants instead for a different flavor.
Irish soda bread is delicious when eaten fresh from the oven (after you let it cool, of course), but it will stay fresh for up to three days if stored in an airtight container on the counter.
Enjoy this easy quick bread recipe this March, or make it as a breakfast treat whenever it sounds good to you! Be sure to Pin it for later.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Irish Soda Bread
Recipe Video
Equipment
- Stand mixer or pastry cutter and a bowl
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter chilled
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup raisins or currants optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can bake this in a cast iron pan. Make the Dough: In a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl), combine flour with sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, and butter. Mix until the butter pieces are the size of a pea. Combine buttermilk with egg, and stir that in until a shaggy dough forms. Stir in the raisins and do not overmix the dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead to shape it into a tall ball about 7 inches in diameter. You may want to add more flour if the dough is sticky. Transfer the ball to a baking sheet, then score the dough ball with a sharp knife to create a cross or X in the center. The cuts should be about ¾ inch deep and 3 to 4 inches long.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until it’s golden brown and done. When you tap, you should hear a hollow sound and that’s how you know that the bread is done.
- Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes:
- Scoring the Bread is Important: If you don’t score an X into the bread before baking, the loaf won’t be able to rise as much and you’ll end up with a very dense final product.
- For a More Traditional Flavor: Add about ¼ cup of caraway seeds into the dough!
- Buttermilk is Key: This is probably the most important ingredient. It’s what gives Irish soda bread that specific tangy and rich flavor that you love. Substitute with kefir if you have to.
- To Make Buttermilk: Mix 1 ½ tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice with a scant 1 ½ cup of milk.
- Don’t overmix: This is a delicate recipe that will not benefit from overmixing. Mix as little as possible, just to combine the ingredients to keep the soda bread light and fluffy.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Renee Ruotolo says
I made this today with my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and it could not have been easier. Excellent recipe! The Irish Soda Bread was moist, light and airy with the crunch of the golden crust. So delicious with my Irish Kellygold butter.
Diana says
We love kerrygold butter! So glad to hear the recipe was a success for you!
Julia says
Yall, this bread is unreal! SO freaking good!!! It worked out on the first try, which is not a usual thing for me. So I would call this a success!!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thank you for the wonderful review, Julia! I am so happy to hear it turned out well for you!
Jordan F says
I buy this all the time from our local bakery because my husband loves it This was the first time making it and it is amazing! I will never buy it again.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
I’m so glad you loved this recipe, Jordan! Thank you for the kind review!
jess says
the addition of the raisins added a lovely texture to the bread and I love how it tastes so much! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
You’re welcome, Jess! So glad you loved it!