Authentic Irish soda bread only requires 4 ingredients to make and is perfect for even the beginner bread maker! There is no yeast and no kneading required here! Add the amazing taste of buttermilk and you have an easy bread that everyone will love!

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This simple bread is super tasty! If you start adding anything, then you have a different bread or tea cake entirely, such as ‘spotted dog’. That would be a more accurate name for a soda bread containing raisins.

Nothing against all of the wonderful variations that could be made, but I like to keep my soda bread nice and simple - like the ‘Wonder Bread’ of that early era in Ireland. So we choose to enjoy our Irish Soda Bread in this white soda bread form. And it is absolutely wonderful!

This easy-to-make soda bread recipe is sure to be a new favorite!

It’s a fantastic bread - if you like buttermilk biscuits, you should enjoy this soda bread for sure!

This golden-crusted loaf of Irish Soda Bread is intended for another fabulous recipe, a sweet Irish dessert that is the perfect use for any dried bread leftovers. This version using our two-day-old Irish Soda Bread takes the usual bread pudding to a whole new level!

We’ve paired our Irish Soda Bread Pudding (or Bread & Butter Pudding) with a super smooth and rich creme Anglaise flavored with Bailey’s Irish Cream for the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day dessert!

Our Irish Soda bread is torn apart and ready to butter!

Go ahead and check out all of my tasty Irish recipes and St. Patrick’s Day recipes!

🥘 Irish Soda Bread Ingredients

Just 4 simple ingredients and you’re on your way to the smell of some amazing bread baking! This no-knead, no-yeast bread couldn’t be easier, and I’ve linked to my page for a WHOLE BUNCH of ways to substitute buttermilk!

  • All-Purpose Flour - 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Baking Soda - 1½ teaspoons of baking soda. Salt - 1 teaspoon of salt. Buttermilk - 1¾ cups of buttermilk. The buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to act as the leavening agent for the bread. This is the secret ingredient to getting the perfect rise, texture, and flavor!

Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!

🔪 How To Make Irish Soda Bread

Grab your ingredients and a set of deep cake pans for the best results! This Irish soda bread is quick and easy to make so you can slather it with butter in no time!

This recipe is for one 8-inch round loaf.

Prepare the Dough

  • Prep. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and grease an 8-inch cake pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. *I prefer to use a set of 2" deep cake pans. I grease the bottom cake pan and use the second as a lid to simulate the bastible that Irish Soda Bread was originally baked in.Combine ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, sift 4 cups of flour and add 1½ teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir to mix with the flour, then make a well in the center of your dry ingredients. Add 1¾ buttermilk and stir until a sticky dough is formed (even though the dough is sticky, it may be in pieces).

Shape & Bake

  • Shape. Turn the sticky dough out onto a lightly floured surface, flour your hands and knead the dough gently (to prevent the gas from escaping). Bring the dough together and shape it into a 1½-2 inch tall disc shape to fit into your 8-inch cake pan (this should be roughly the same size if you are baking on a baking sheet).Score. Use a sharp knife to score a cross on the top of the dough (to bless the bread), then poke each of the four corners (traditionally done to allow the fairies to escape, otherwise they will jinx the bread).Bake until golden. Cover the cake pan with the second cake pan and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 30 minutes, then remove the top cake pan and finish baking for an additional 15 minutes. The bread will have a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom crust.Cool. Turn the baked soda bread out of the cake pan and allow it to cool on a wire cooling rack.

Break the bread loaf in half and cut it into thick slices (or serve as 4-8 torn wedges) to be buttered. This easy buttermilk soda bread is delightful with practically anything! When I make my Irish lamb stew, this tasty bread is a must-have side. Enjoy!

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes

  • Cover the bread with a tea towel and mist it with a spray bottle to keep your bread moist.Don’t overwork your bread dough, it is supposed to look shaggy. Once your Irish soda bread is a day old, it is perfect for making some Irish soda bread pudding!

🥡 Storing

You’ll want to keep your bread either tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It is best when enjoyed within a few days.

Additionally, you can easily freeze this Irish soda bread! Wrap it tightly with a few layers of plastic wrap (after it has cooled entirely) and then freeze it for up to 2 months. Just allow it to defrost when you are ready to eat it!

See all of my recipes HERE««

Why Does Irish Soda Bread Have A Cross On It? Scoring the dough with a cross in the middle helps to ensure that the center bakes thoroughly and allows it to rise without cracking. However, there is also a traditional element behind the cross as well! It was believed that scoring a cross on the top of the bread would keep the devil out while it baked (as well as blessing the bread). Why Is My Irish Soda Bread So Crumbly? There could be a few reasons why your soda bread is extra crumbly. First, you’ll want to make sure that you are using the correct measurements for your ingredients. Too much flour can easily dry out the bread. You also need to make sure that your baking soda is still fresh, or it won’t work correctly. How Do I Know When Irish Soda Bread Is Done? The exterior of the bread should be golden brown in color and the center should be completely cooked. You can test it in the same way you would test a cake- by inserting a toothpick into the center and seeing if it comes out clean. Additionally, when you tap the bottom of the loaf, it should have a hollow sound.

😋 More Great Irish Recipes

  • Irish Apple Cake - Moist cake is packed with fresh apples and topped with a creamy vanilla custard sauce!Corned Beef and Cabbage - This slow-roasted dish is a perfect meal for celebrating St. Patrick’s day!Irish Oatmeal Cake with Caramel Pecan Frosting - A moist and fluffy spiced cake is coated with a decadent caramel pecan frosting!Irish Nachos - Imagine some delicious nachos but swap out the chips for thinly sliced potatoes!Irish Barmbrack - This tasty raisin bread is super easy to make as it doesn’t use any yeast!Irish Lamb Stew - This mouthwatering stew is packed full of tender lamb and hearty veggies!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 11 reviews

Traditional Irish Soda Bread (Easy No-Knead, No-Yeast Bread)

Authentic Irish soda bread only requires 4 ingredients to make and is perfect for even the beginner bread maker! There is no yeast and no kneading required here! Add the amazing taste of buttermilk and you have an easy bread that everyone will love!

Author | Angela

Servings: 1 8" round loaf Calories: 2080kcal Prep 10 minutes Cooking 45 minutes Total Time 55 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 4 cups all-purpose flour▢ 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda▢ 1 teaspoon salt▢ 1 ¾ cup buttermilk

InstructionsPreheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and grease a 8 inch cake pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. *I prefer to use a set of the 2" deep cake pans, grease the bottom cake pan and use the second as a lid to simulate the bastible that Irish Soda Bread was originally baked in.In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour and add the baking soda and salt. Stir to mix with the flour, then make a well in the center of your dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk and stir until a sticky dough is formed (even though the dough is sticky, it may be in pieces (see video)).4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ¾ cup buttermilkTurn the sticky dough out onto a lightly floured surface, flour your hands and knead the dough gently (to prevent the gas from escaping). Bring the dough together and shape into a 1 ½ - 2 inch tall disc shape to fit into your 8 inch cake pan (this should be roughly the same size if you are baking on a baking sheet). Use a sharp knife to score a cross on the top of the dough (to bless the bread), then poke each of the four corners (traditionally done to allow the fairies to escape, otherwise they will jinx the bread).Cover the cake pan with the second cake pan and bake at 425°F (218°C) for 30 minutes, then remove the top cake pan and finish baking for an additional 15 minutes. The bread will have a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom crust.Turn the baked soda bread out of the cake pan and allow to cool on a wire cooling rack. Break the bread loaf in half and cut into thick slices (or serve as 4-8 torn wedges) to be buttered. Video Notes Irish Soda Bread was originally baked in a Bastible, which is very similar to a Dutch Oven. However, baking soda bread in our Dutch Oven will give the bottom of our loaf a rounded appearance. Instead, we are using a pair of cake pans to simulate the Bastible, and keep a nice flat bottom crust on our white soda bread. Cover the bread with a tea towel and mist with a spray bottle to keep your bread moist. Once your Traditional Irish Soda Bread is day old, it is perfect for making our Irish Soda Bread Pudding!

NutritionCalories: 2080kcal (104%) | Carbohydrates: 402g (134%) | Protein: 65g (130%) | Fat: 18g (28%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Cholesterol: 46mg (15%) | Sodium: 4664mg (203%) | Potassium: 1102mg (31%) | Fiber: 13g (54%) | Sugar: 21g (23%) | Vitamin A: 695IU (14%) | Calcium: 558mg (56%) | Iron: 23.2mg (129%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! irish soda bread, soda bread, traditional irish soda bread Course Bread Recipes, Quick Bread Recipes, St. Patrick’s DayCuisine Irish

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

Scoring the dough with a cross in the middle helps to ensure that the center bakes thoroughly and allows it to rise without cracking. However, there is also a traditional element behind the cross as well! It was believed that scoring a cross on the top of the bread would keep the devil out while it baked (as well as blessing the bread).

Why Is My Irish Soda Bread So Crumbly? There could be a few reasons why your soda bread is extra crumbly. First, you’ll want to make sure that you are using the correct measurements for your ingredients. Too much flour can easily dry out the bread. You also need to make sure that your baking soda is still fresh, or it won’t work correctly.

How Do I Know When Irish Soda Bread Is Done? The exterior of the bread should be golden brown in color and the center should be completely cooked. You can test it in the same way you would test a cake- by inserting a toothpick into the center and seeing if it comes out clean. Additionally, when you tap the bottom of the loaf, it should have a hollow sound.

There could be a few reasons why your soda bread is extra crumbly. First, you’ll want to make sure that you are using the correct measurements for your ingredients. Too much flour can easily dry out the bread. You also need to make sure that your baking soda is still fresh, or it won’t work correctly.

The exterior of the bread should be golden brown in color and the center should be completely cooked. You can test it in the same way you would test a cake- by inserting a toothpick into the center and seeing if it comes out clean. Additionally, when you tap the bottom of the loaf, it should have a hollow sound.

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 11 reviews

Traditional Irish Soda Bread (Easy No-Knead, No-Yeast Bread)

Author | Angela

Servings: 1 8" round loaf

Calories: 2080kcal

Prep 10 minutes

Cooking 45 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 4 cups all-purpose flour▢ 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda▢ 1 teaspoon salt▢ 1 ¾ cup buttermilk

InstructionsPreheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and grease a 8 inch cake pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. *I prefer to use a set of the 2" deep cake pans, grease the bottom cake pan and use the second as a lid to simulate the bastible that Irish Soda Bread was originally baked in.In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour and add the baking soda and salt. Stir to mix with the flour, then make a well in the center of your dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk and stir until a sticky dough is formed (even though the dough is sticky, it may be in pieces (see video)).4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ¾ cup buttermilkTurn the sticky dough out onto a lightly floured surface, flour your hands and knead the dough gently (to prevent the gas from escaping). Bring the dough together and shape into a 1 ½ - 2 inch tall disc shape to fit into your 8 inch cake pan (this should be roughly the same size if you are baking on a baking sheet). Use a sharp knife to score a cross on the top of the dough (to bless the bread), then poke each of the four corners (traditionally done to allow the fairies to escape, otherwise they will jinx the bread).Cover the cake pan with the second cake pan and bake at 425°F (218°C) for 30 minutes, then remove the top cake pan and finish baking for an additional 15 minutes. The bread will have a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom crust.Turn the baked soda bread out of the cake pan and allow to cool on a wire cooling rack. Break the bread loaf in half and cut into thick slices (or serve as 4-8 torn wedges) to be buttered.

Video

Notes Irish Soda Bread was originally baked in a Bastible, which is very similar to a Dutch Oven. However, baking soda bread in our Dutch Oven will give the bottom of our loaf a rounded appearance. Instead, we are using a pair of cake pans to simulate the Bastible, and keep a nice flat bottom crust on our white soda bread. Cover the bread with a tea towel and mist with a spray bottle to keep your bread moist. Once your Traditional Irish Soda Bread is day old, it is perfect for making our Irish Soda Bread Pudding!

Nutrition

Calories: 2080kcal (104%) | Carbohydrates: 402g (134%) | Protein: 65g (130%) | Fat: 18g (28%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Cholesterol: 46mg (15%) | Sodium: 4664mg (203%) | Potassium: 1102mg (31%) | Fiber: 13g (54%) | Sugar: 21g (23%) | Vitamin A: 695IU (14%) | Calcium: 558mg (56%) | Iron: 23.2mg (129%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Bread Recipes, Quick Bread Recipes, St. Patrick’s DayCuisine Irish

US CustomaryMetric