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Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe

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Nothing beats homemade bread. With this Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe, you can have freshly baked bread in no time. So easy, quick and delicious, your house will smell like a bakery. Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this easy bread recipe.

A close up of Irish Soda Bread showing the nice X on the top.

I happen to love making homemade bread. Unfortunately, we always don’t have the time. Simple Irish Soda Bread is the answer. You can whip this bread recipe in minutes. The perfect side to soup, stew,(especially Irish stew) and chili. If you are like me, breaking off a hunk of bread and slathering it with butter is fantastic.

Recipe ingredients in a bowl, buttermilk in a measuring cup on the side.

There is something about the aroma of bread baking. That is my favourite part about visiting a bakery. Delicious sweets are one thing, but fresh baked bread is one of my favourite foods. There is not a type of bread I have not liked.

What is Irish Soda Bread?

Also called soda bread, it is a quick bread that does not require yeast, kneading or time to rise. Baking soda is used as the leavening agent. Traditional soda bread includes only 4 ingredients:

  • flour
  • baking soda
  • soured milk/buttermilk
  • salt

Soda bread dough on a wooden board.

Ingredients found in you pantry right? If you don’t have buttermilk don’t worry. Check below for some easy substitutions. This bread recipe is  easy as 1-2-3.

How to make Irish Soda Bread

Let me tell you, making bread does not get easier than this. I thought scones and cornbread were easy to make. This soda bread recipe is even easier. I really don’t think you can screw this up. Well ok, I guess you could burn it.

I really don’t think this will happen. Once that aroma of this delicious bread starts wafting through the house, you will be checking the oven. I am always eager to break off a hunk of this quick and easy bread and slather on the butter. SOOOOO GOOOOOD!!! 

Knife cutting an X on the top of the bread.

 

If you search the net you will find LOTS of different soda bread recipes. Some have nuts, seeds, and raisins. Traditionally it was made with NO butter and NO white flour. I think we have sort of customized it to our tastes.

So if you have never made Irish Soda Bread, let me give you the Coles notes directions. You will be a baking bread like a pro in no time.

Place the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

  • Add the buttermilk.
  • Mix with your hands to combine.
  • Turn dough onto floured surface and mix until it forms a ball.
  • Place on a baking sheet.
  • Score
  • Bake

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand no problem. There are buttermilk substitutes you can use. Alternatively you can also use buttermilk powder mixed with water.

Overhead shot of bread cut on a wooden board. Shamrock decorations around.

For this Irish Soda Bread recipe, I did use butter and a bit of sugar (I know, breaking tradition), and I also sprinkled course salt on the top before baking.

I have baked it in a cake pan, and a cast iron skillet (it takes a little longer). We prefer the old fashioned way. Just plop it onto a baking sheet. Makes a great rustic looking loaf. Do you know why they score the top? Folklore states: “to let the fairies out”.

Close up of pieces of soda bread.

Making bread does not have to be time consuming and complicated. This Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe makes an appearance quite often on our dinner table. It disappears in a flash. Hope you give it a try.

Do you have a favourite quick bread recipe?

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A close up of Irish Soda Bread showing the nice X on the top.

Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe

Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe is just what you need to make freshly baked bread any day of the week. No yeast, no rising, no kneading. You only need 4 ingredients to make this soda bread recipe. Enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, and all year long. 
5 from 40 votes
Print Rate Recipe Collections
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: Authentic, Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Calories: 379kcal
Author: Homemade & Yummy

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp white sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup cold butter (cubed)
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 tsp course sea salt (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350º F and choose your preferred baking pan, sheet or cast iron skillet. I just used a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • In a large bowl add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.
  • Add the butter and mix until crumbly.
  • Add the buttermilk (not all at once) and mix with your had until moist.
  • Turn dough onto floured surface and blend until it forms a round ball. Flatten with your hand slightly to form a disc about 7-8 inches across.
  • Place on baking sheet. Score an X on the top with a sharp knife (about 1/2 way through the bread.
  • At this point you can top with the course salt if you like.
  • Bake in oven for about 50 minutes. Check with a cake tester. Top should be browned, and the bread will have a hallow sound when you tap on the bottom.
  • Remove to a wire rack to cool. At this point I am ready to rip off a chunk!!
  • ENJOY!!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 905mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 9.1% | Calcium: 14.7% | Iron: 16.8%

Notes

***NOTE** If you choose to bake this in a cast iron skillet, you will have to allow for more time as it takes time for the skillet to heat in the oven. DO NOT heat the skillet before putting the bread in to bake.

Irish Soda Bread long pin image.

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I have never made Irish soda bread – sounds yum. The dough looks so pliable and easy to manage. I love how simple and easy this recipe is. Saving for later.

    Reply

  6. Yum, ”tis is perfect for this time of year hen it’s no too hot to turn he oven on! I really like how easy it looks, and love the thought of slathering a hot piece with butter!

    Reply

  9. I can’t say I’ve actually ever had Irish soda bread, but like you said I also love having a nice hunk of bread to go with a big bowl of soup. The smell of fresh baking bread is one of my favorite smells in the world. I love how quick and simple the recipe is!

    Reply

  12. Those salt crystals on top! OMG! I could eat this entire loaf with an obscene amount of kerrygold butter on each bite 🙂 Can’t wait to try this recipe.

    Reply

  17. I, too, love how easy it is to make Irish Soda Bread. It really comes together so quickly, and I love that rustic, craggily texture. I hadn’t heard the folklore about the cuts in the top being to “let the fairies out.” How fun! I absolutely love that. I’ll have to tell my St. Patrick’s dinner guests this year when I put the soda bread on the table!

    Reply

  19. Soda bread is the BEST! I grew up in Ireland and Soda bread was a staple in our house. I haven’t made my own in years, but it is still up there in my list of absolute favorite comfort foods. I am looking forward to trying this version out!

    Reply

  20. I cannot tell you how much I love Irish soda bread – although the version my Gram passed down has raisins and other nontraditional ingredients. I could eat this every day.

    Reply

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