Easy homemade Irish soda bread is perfect for any day of the week. Dense and soft with an incredible crusty exterior.
No kneading. No rising. No yeast. No waiting for hours! Quick, easy, and delicious. Your house will smell like a bakery.
A traditional quick bread made with simple ingredients. Crusty outside, soft inside, a must-try for bread lovers. Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this quick baking soda bread recipe.
Life is busy. My sundried tomato and olive bread takes a little time to make, but worth the effort. Traditional Irish soda bread is the perfect way to enjoy homemade bread using minimal ingredients. Made in a fraction of the time.
When you can make delicious biscuit recipes in a snap, like Gramma’s drop biscuits, life is good. Give these cottage cheese biscuits a try too. So much better than the famous store-bought tinned variety.
So that the heck is soda bread anyway? A quick bread that does not use yeast or require rising time. It produces a dense and moist loaf with a golden crust.
If you are new to the bread-making experience, this easy recipe is the perfect place to start. It does not require any yeast. Instead, all of its leavening comes from baking soda and buttermilk.
Traditionally the 4 basic ingredients include flour, baking soda, buttermilk, and salt. It can also be made with a combination of whole wheat flour and regular flour. Some recipes also include the addition of raisins.
I bet your family will like it so much it will become your favourite side. We absolutely love it with tomato crab soup.
With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, it pairs perfectly with this easy corned beef and potato on the stove dinner. A must along side Guinness Irish stew.
Basic Soda Bread Ingredients
- flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- butter
- buttermilk
How To Make Easy Irish Soda Bread In Minutes
You will be a pro in no time. Full instructions are in the recipe card.
- Place the flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the buttermilk.
- Mix with a spatula to combine.
- Turn dough onto a floured surface and mix until it forms a ball, adding a little more flour as you work the dough.
- Place on a baking sheet.
- Score and bake.
Suggestions / Recipe Tips
- Do not over-work the dough. It should have an uneven and shaggy appearance. This dough has more of a scone like texture. Add a bit more flour as you work it into a ball.
- Be sure to score the top of the bread before baking.
- Always use cold butter. The colder the butter the less sticky the dough will be.
- If you choose to bake the bread in a cast-iron skillet, add a few minutes to the baking time as it will take a little longer.
- If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, here are some great buttermilk substitutes.
- Adding the salt on top before baking is optional. Course sea salt is perfect for this.
How long will it last? It will dry out quickly, so it is best eaten the day of baking. For longer use, wrap it tightly or place it in an airtight container. It will last for 3-4 days.
Can you freeze it? Yes, you can. Tightly wrapped it will freeze well for 3-4 months.
Why Is There An X On Top Of Soda Bread?
Depending on where you get your facts, there are lots of legends. People believe the X on top symbolizes:
- to let the fairies out.
- the four corners represent the four provinces of Ireland!
- often said to ward off the devil and to protect the household.
- blessing the bread and giving thanks.
From a baking perspective, cutting the dough lets heat penetrate into the thickest part of the bread. Allowing it to stretch and expand while baking.
What is the difference between Irish soda bread and Irish brown bread?
Soda bread is slightly sweet. Think of a fresh-baked scone. It contains white flour, which gives it a mild flavor.
Brown bread is savory. It contains whole wheat flour, molasses, and oats. It has a nutty flavour.
Baking bread does not have to be time-consuming and complicated. This easy-to-make recipe makes an appearance quite often on our dinner table.
Try this recipe alongside:
- Chunky Chili, the perfect comfort food that will warm you up in a hurry
- Red Wine Lamb Stew takes comfort food to a whole new level of deliciousness. Great for date night.
- Mom’s Pea Soup always needs some great bread for dunking.
Looking For More Quick and Easy Bread Recipes?
- We love Cheezy Cornbread with chili. A must for the cast iron skillet.
- Have some bananas to use up? Basic Banana Bread is always a great place for them.
- Another no yeast option is Onion Bread, perfect for soups, stews, and chilis.
Easy Irish Soda Bread (Baking Soda Bread)
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold butter (cubed)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt (optional)
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.
- Using a spatula add the buttermilk (not all at once) and mix until moist. The dough will have a shaggy texture.
- Turn dough onto floured surface and blend with your hands until it forms a round ball. Add a bit more flour to make it easier to handle. Try not to overwork it. 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 ½ way through the bread.
- At this point, you can top with the coarse salt if you like.
- Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes. Check with a cake tester. The top should be browned, and the bread will have a hollow 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!!
Dana Sandonato
I’m still in love with this recipe a year later. No labor, all love. This makes having homemade bread on a weekly basis so attainable. Thank you!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is the best recipe when you need bread in a hurry. So glad you enjoy it as much as we do.
Debra
Such a great addition to the many soups and stews I’m making during the winter. Love how easy this one comes together too. Hubby will be so excited when he smells this homemade loaf.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I know…it is a winner all the way around. And tastes delicious too. ENJOY!
Jenni LeBaron
Yum! This Irish soda bread recipe makes me long for a big pot of Guinness stew! I can imagine this is delicious paired with anything saucy or enjoyed straight out of the oven with a big shmear of butter! Absolutely delicious!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is the perfect side to stew, soup and chili. We make this often.
VeenaAzmanov
So easy and yet so delicious. Have to try one soon.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I hope you give this bread recipe a try soon.
Marisa F. Stewart
Normally I make yeast breads but this version is so quick and easy I whip it up so I can serve it with soup. Since this is soup season, I’ve been making the bread, cutting it in half and freezing part of it so we always have some delicious homemade bread with our soup. I’m due to make another loaf.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I love putting it in the freezer too. Great to pull out to pair up with meals.
Clare
Love it, especially straight out of the oven. I added dried cranberries to the recipe and it turned out so well. Thanks for sharing the recipe
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are very welcome…so glad you came back to tell me how it turned out.
Tammy Grubbs
Excellent recipe
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. Hope you give it a try.
Natalie
That irish bread looks fantastic. Rustic, flavorful and delicious. Can imagine putting a butter on a slice. Yum! I’m such a huge fan of easy homemade breads. Never tried making bread in skillet. Must give skillet a go.
Homemade & Yummy
I have made cornbread in a skillet….turns out fantastic.
Jo
No knead breads are my absolute favorite types of bread. I love baking bread and this soda bread is just perfect Gloria. I’m so happy to see you added butter to make the bread even more better. Always butter is better! haha! I cant wait to try your soda bread
Homemade & Yummy
Nothing like a freshly baked bread an butter. Simple and delicious.
Julie
I love Irish soda bread because, as your recipe title suggests, it’s so quick and easy! It just isn’t St. Patrick’s Day without a freshly made loaf!
Homemade & Yummy
Super quick, and a great way to enjoy fresh baked bread any day of the week.
Daniela
Yum! You had me at quick and easy :). This weather sure has me craving carbs…especially bread!
Homemade & Yummy
It doesn’t get easier than this at making bread.
Charity
I’m getting really excited for St Paddys! This soda bread would go great with our favorite guinness stew. Thanks!
Homemade & Yummy
Oh yes…perfect with that delicious stew for sure.
Loreto Nardelli
Hi Gloria
I am sold on this soda bread. You have made it look so easy to make and love that crust. I would love a piece as soon as it comes out of the oven with butter. Or better yet with a good gravy rich stew my bread would be right in there sopping up all that goodness! ?
Homemade & Yummy
Either way…ENJOY this bread. I know you can make the “more advanced” breads, but this is quick and fun. The simple things in life like bread and butter…on yes for sure.
Amy
I really love this recipe! It’s always so hard to convince myself to make fresh bread, since it takes up so much time — but this recipe is so quick and easy! And really helpful tips for those of us who haven’t made soda bread before!
Homemade & Yummy
With this recipe you can have fresh bread any day of the week.
Michelle
There really is nothing better than good soda bread. I have to agree with Annemarie, waiting for your bread to cool before slathering it in cold butter is the hardest thing! Lovely recipe x
Homemade & Yummy
Yup that is the hardest part for sure. Hope you enjoy this easy and delicious recipe soon.