Nothing beats homemade bread. With this Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe, you can have freshly baked bread in no time.
No kneading. No rising. No waiting for HOURS! Perfect for any night of the week. Quick, easy and delicious, your house will smell like a bakery. Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this easy soda bread recipe.
I happen to love making homemade bread. Unfortunately, we always don’t have the time. Simple and easy 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.
There is something about the aroma of bread baking. That is my favourite part of visiting a bakery. Delicious sweets are one thing, but freshly baked bread is one of my favourite foods. There is not a type of bread I have not liked. This soda bread is a favourite around here.
If you are a crusty bread lover, this is for YOU!
WHAT IS IRISH SODA BREAD?
Irish soda bread, soda bread or Irish bread (so many ways to call it) is a quick bread that does not require yeast, kneading or time to rise. Baking soda is used as the leavening agent. Traditional Irish soda bread contains only 4 ingredients:
- flour
- baking soda
- soured milk/buttermilk
- salt
Ingredients found in your 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 recipe for Irish soda bread 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 and simple bread recipe 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!!!
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. No bread machine needed here.
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.
For this Irish Soda Bread recipe, I did use butter and a bit of sugar (I know, breaking tradition), and I also sprinkled coarse 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”.
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 this easy to make homemade bread recipe a try.
Do you have a favourite quick bread recipe?
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Irish Soda Bread Quick Easy Recipe
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)
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 hand 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 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!!
- ENJOY!!
Marisa Franca
Well, I think the fairies did their magic to the bread before you cut the dough and let them out. It’s a beautiful loaf and I bet it is perfect go-along with any meal. We are huge bread lovers and I’d love to have a warm slice slathered with butter. So yummy! I’m keeping this in mind for St. Patrick’s Day.
Homemade & Yummy
I love the “fairy” part…such a fun little tip for this easy to make recipe.
Veena Azmanov
This is why I love soda bread. So simple, so easy and not waiting. Love all the detailed information . you provided Gloria. Need to try your recipe soon.
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks, Veena, although you could do this with your eyes closed. All that talent in those cakes makes this look like child’s play.
Lathiya
The irish soda bread looks amazing..perfect crumbs and I love to dunk a chunk in my milk
Homemade & Yummy
Well, that sounds like a great plan. ENJOY!
Arlene Mobley
I love homemade bread but not the time it takes to make. Thanks for this easy recipe! Can’t wait to try it.
Homemade & Yummy
This is super easy to make any night of the week. ENJOY and thanks for stopping by.
Linda
Oh my! I love a warm, toasty bread like this and am gonna try this one. I mean, the fact that it only takes 1 hour to bake it from scratch definitely wins.
Homemade & Yummy
I agree this is a keeper. I know once you give it a try, you will make it often.
Danielle Wolter
Why am I not making this bread??? I’m not much of a bread baker, but am all about a no-knead no yeast bread. it sounds so easy to make and I’ll bet it’s delicious. I hope I get a chance to try it this weekend!
Homemade & Yummy
I hope you do too. It is super delicious and quick to make.
Jolina
I can’t believe how quick to bake this is!! I love making bread too but my default recipe usually takes a couple of hours just the waiting/rising alone so lol. Can’t wait to try this out. Perfect for dunking into soup!
Homemade & Yummy
Well when you want freshly baked bread in no time, this is the recipe for you. Hope you give it a try.
Denise
That looks beautiful! I like that it seems so simple. I am not a baker but I’ve always wanted to make good homemade bread. Actually it’s on my bucket list. However so far I have not been successful so I’ll have to try this recipe. It looks like it would be perfect with a bowl fo stew or soup!
Homemade & Yummy
This is super easy to make. I promise you will master it THE FIRST TIME!! Give it a try and see for yourself.
Linda
I’m a fan of irish Soda Bread too! I love how easy it is and it always comes out moist and delicious. And I’m with you on reaching for it while it’s hot and slathering on the butter. Now I’m thinking I need this for dinner tomorrow.
Homemade & Yummy
I think I need this for dinner EVERY NIGHT!!
Laura Adney
I now need to make this. You make it so simple and yummy to follow!
Homemade & Yummy
Super easy for sure. I know it will turn out the first time. ENJOY!
Lois Christensen
A friend of mine and her husband always made Irish Soda Bread and would deliver it to our house on St. Patrick’s Day. But they moved away and I’ve been thinking of trying to make some for us this year. Your recipe came just in time! Looks really good.
Homemade & Yummy
This is so easy to make. A great way to have home baked bread all the time.
Kelly Anthony
I’ve never made soda bread but I really like the idea of making bread from start to finish in an hour.
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give it a try…it is super easy to make.
Stine Mari
Okay I didn’t know it was THAT easy! I love making bread and buns and all that, but it does take a long time. I will have to try this very soon!
Homemade & Yummy
EASY…so easy!!
Darlene @ Dip Recipe Creations
I love the idea of making bread without waiting for it to rise. I don’t know if I’ve ever had Irish Soda Bread, but this looks great and sounds so easy.
Homemade & Yummy
We love this, and it is so easy to whip up any night of the week.
Jillian
No kneading, no rising & no yeast – these are a few of my favorite things!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAHA…YES!! The bread is fantastic too.
Luci
This looks so delicious. It would be great to whip this up when you don’t want to wait for yeast to rise.
Homemade & Yummy
This is perfect for making bread in a quick and easy method.
Danielle
I’ve been experimenting with lots of yeast breads lately, but dislike the time it takes to knead and rise. This looks like the perfect easy recipe for bread! Will be making it this weekend!
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….this never lasts long in our house.
Jenna
I love this Irish soda bread. It’s one of the easiest breads to make.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes and so delicious too.
Byron Thomas
When I read the part where you think breaking off a chunk of bread and slathering it with butter is fantastic, I knew we could be best friends. Really, there’s nothing as soothing and as therapeutic as warm, homemade bread. I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where homemade bread was all there way. My mom would make homemade bread twice each week, in large batches. I miss it tremendously! I’m just slowly practicing and perfecting my bread making skills, and I think this easy Irish soda bread would be a great place to start! Thanks for sharing!!
Homemade & Yummy
I KNOW you will master this the first time. ENJOY!
Amanda
Yum — I love how easy and delicious this looks. We always have a St. Patrick’s Day party, and this bread will be perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
Perfect for St. Patrick’s day…enjoy, I know your guests will love it.
Veena Azmanov
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.
Homemade & Yummy
This is such a quick and easy bread to make. Serves the purpose when you want fresh bread, but are pressed for time.
Erin Kay
Looks so yum! Love soda bread. Bookmarking this!
Homemade & Yummy
This really is sooo easy to make.
Elena
I bake bread quite often but I don’t know how come I’ve never baked Irish soda bread! That’ll be the next bread I bake for sure!
Homemade & Yummy
This is so easy and delicious. Hope you enjoy it.
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
Wow, I had no idea Irish soda bread was so easy to make! There’s nothing like warm bread, straight out of the oven. Whenever I bake bread it’s all I can do to not dive in the second it comes out
Homemade & Yummy
Freshly baked bread is so good. Warm bread and butter is THE BEST!!
Julie
Nothing beats a lazy weekend afternoon baking bread. This looks perfect!
Homemade & Yummy
I know, just something so rewarding when you make it yourself.
Paige
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!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…fresh hot bread out of the oven with butter is sooooo good.
anne
I love Irish Soda Bread and this looks so easy to make too! I’m going to give this a try.
Homemade & Yummy
Baking bread does not get easier than this.
TaraTeaspoon
It looks so fluffy and moist ! I love any recipe that has “easy” in front of it so looks like this is going in my recipe box !
Homemade & Yummy
Believe me…this is the easiest way to make bread ever.
lauren
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!
Homemade & Yummy
This is my go to recipe when fresh baked bread is a must for any recipe.
Richa Gupta
Looks amazing and so easy to do as well! Love it!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is easy and delicious. Hope you give it a try.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
This looks like such an easy, tender loaf! Love that bit about the fairies, too – how cute!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…that is a cute little folk lore for sure.
abra
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.
Homemade & Yummy
Nothing beats freshly baked bread butter.
Ben Myhre
I love homemade bread and this looks fantastic.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes is sure is.
Jenni
I LOVE a good soda bread, and this looks so tasty! Perfect to go with a nice soup or stew!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes….it is the perfect quick and easy bread to make for so many things.
Debra C.
I do have buttermilk on hand and I am totally making this, YUM!
Homemade & Yummy
Enjoy. This is such an easy recipe….and totally delicious.
Albert Bevia
There is absolutely nothing better than homemade bread, and yes, the aroma of bread baking is my favorite part about it too! thanks for the SUPER EASY recipe 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give it a try. Such an easy recipe. Perfect to make whenever you want fresh baked bread.
Amanda
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!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…yes I thought that was a cute little fact as well.
Hadia
Love Irish soda bread for both, it taste and its easiness to be ready in literally no time! Yours looks so good!
Homemade & Yummy
I know….it really is the best of both worlds.
Donna
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!
Homemade & Yummy
Well you certainly had the “real deal” in the UK. It would be great to taste it from there too.
Michelle
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.
Homemade & Yummy
Well I think any version would be delicious.