Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Saint Patrick’s Day is sneaking up on us and that always makes me crave Irish soda bread. But trust me, you don’t need to wait for St. Patrick’s Day to make this incredible quick bread recipe. The Irish soda bread has a thick, crunchy, buttery sweet crust and the interior of the bread is soft and substantial, without being overly dense nor dry. It’s not an overly sweet bread even though the crust has a touch of sweetness because of an optional sprinkling of turbinado sugar. There’s only 1/4-cup of sugar used in the dough which is practically nothing compared to most dessert or baking recipes. For this reason, it’s a great breakfast, brunch, or late morning snack option when you don’t want anything overly sweet and sugary. I include raisins soaked in Irish whiskey (Jameson) in my bread and they’re so soft, plump, juicy, and they just perfume the soda bread with the most incredible flavor. And no, the bread doesn’t taste boozy at all. Although this is optional. This is a fast and easy bread recipe because there’s no yeast and no need to knead any dough. Simply combine a handful of common wet and dry ingredients and you can stir it by hand. No mixer required!
Ingredients in Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
Irish soda bread is one of the more rare baking recipes where you don’t need a ton of ingredients! In fact, there’s only a handful of very common and easy to find fridge and pantry ingredients including the following:
Raisins, optionalIrish whiskey (or apple juice), optionalAll-purpose flourBaking powderBaking sodaSaltButtermilkLarge eggsMelted butterGranulated sugarTurbinado sugar, optional
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread
Making Irish soda bread is easy and since there’s no yeast in this quickbread recipe, it’s fast, too. Follow my straightforward directions for a fantastic and foolproof soda bread: Step 1: Optionally, if you want to use and soak raisins in Jameson or Irish whiskey, now is the time to do it. Soaking softens and plumps them, and adds flavor, but it’s up to you. Step 2: Add the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Or you can use apple juice or white grape juice if you don’t want to use whiskey. Or don’t add any raisins at all. Lots of options – all up to you! Step 3: Add the wet ingredients in a separate mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Step 4: Add the wet to the dry flour mixture ingredients, and mix until just combined. Step 5: If you’re using soaked raisins, drain the soaking liquid, and add the raisins now and fold them in gently to incorporate. Step 6: Place the dough onto a greased baking sheet. Step 7: Score the top with a sharp knife. Step 8: Brush with melted butter and the optional turbinado sugar – or use regular sugar, or nothing. Step 9: Bake until golden browned and allow to cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Do I Have to Use Buttermilk in Soda Bread?
Because there’s no yeast in this quickbread recipe, you need something to help allow the bread to rise and act as a leavening agent. In this case, buttermilk (an acid) is going to react with baking soda (a base) to create carbon dioxide bubbles during the baking process. And this is what is going to leaven, or lift, the loaf so it’s not a dense hockey puck! Therefore, you do need to use buttermilk.
Can I Use Homemade Buttermilk?
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand and want to make a version of it using regular milk and lemon juice or white vinegar, you can.
Can I Use Yogurt?
You could potentially thin out yogurt or Greek yogurt with enough milk to get it to be the consistency of buttermilk. However, this isn’t a method I personally opt for. It’s just easier and a guarantee to use buttermilk than start doctoring up various combinations of yogurt + milk and wondering if or how it will work.
What to Serve with Irish Soda Bread
Of course you can enjoy your Irish soda bread simply sliced thinly with a cup of coffee or tea. If it’s warm from the oven, you’re going to be in for a real treat. However, soda bread is amazing when toasted for a crispy exterior in contrast with the softness of the interior of the bread. Spread some butter on top of your toast for added awesomeness! As for what dishes pair well with Irish soda bread, here are some suggestions:
Slow Cooker Beef StewSlow Cooker Corned Beef and CabbageSlow Cooker Cabbage SoupHomemade Vegetable Soup
Storage Instructions
Irish soda bread will keep airtight at room temp for up to 4 days. However, as with most baked goods, fresh is best and it’s at its peak when it’s the freshest. I do not recommend storing it in the fridge. You can freeze a fully cooled loaf airtight for up to 3 months although it’s a bulky loaf to try to find freezer space for. But if you’ve got the space, bread freezes well generally-speaking, and your soda bread will be fine.
Tips for the Best Irish Soda Bread
Making Irish soda bread is easy, fast, and practically foolproof! Here are a few final parting tips and tricks to make sure your soda bread recipe turns out perfectly!
Raisin Soaking
As I mentioned already, soaking the raisins isn’t obligatory. I like to do it so they’re softer and plumper, and the extra rich flavor the Irish whiskey imparts is wonderful. However, another option is to use white rum, or a spiced rum like Captain Morgan. I realize not very “Irish” but I like to provide ideas and options based on what people may have on hand already. Apple juice or white grape juice are also good soaking liquids.
Don’t Overmix
The cardinal rule in almost all baking recipes where there’s dough involved is to not overmix it. Overmixing muffin or cupcake batter for example causes tough, dense muffins or cupcakes and the same can be said for the Irish soda bread dough.
Sticky is Fine
It’s fine if it’s a shaggy, moist, tacky, sticky dough. Just get it into a mound on your baking sheet or in your skillet, score it, and bake it off.
Turbinado Sugar
I like to brush the dough with a bit of melted butter and sprinkle the it with turbinado sugar for a bit of a crunchy sweet texture to the crust, although it’s optional. You can also use granulated sugar instead.
Baking Tips
More Easy Quick Bread Recipes:
30-Minute Honey Whole Wheat Skillet Bread — Skillet breads bake quicker than bread in loaf pans, so you get to enjoy this bread sooner rather than later. It’s soft, fluffy, chewy, and lightweight with a moist crumb that reminds me of the texture of a moist muffin. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Honey Maple Beer Bread — The easiest beer bread ever! No kneading, no yeast, and guaranteed soft and fluffy results every time! Sweet Potato Cornbread — Homemade cornbread just got better because it’s jazzed up with mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice! Thanks to the natural moisture from sweet potatoes and the addition of buttermilk, it’s so moist and flavorful! Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread — Moist, fluffy, golden brown buttermilk cornbread prepared in a cast iron skillet for a crispy edge. The buttery subtle sweetness makes it a cross between a side dish and a stand-alone comforting snack. Whether you make it for a weeknight family dinner or a holiday celebration, it’s so EASY, ready in 30 minutes, and FOOLPROOF! Cinnamon-Sugar Crust Cinnamon Swirl Bread — This cinnamon swirl bread is light and fluffy in the middle with a crusty cinnamon-sugar exterior that’s reminiscent of a streusel topping! The ribbon of cinnamon sugar that runs through the middle is a perfect touch! Easy, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe!! Cinnamon Applesauce Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter — This applesauce bread is packed with fall flavors and comes together quickly. I serve mine with homemade honey butter, because why not? Apple Pie Bread with Streusel Topping — If you like apple crumble pie, you’re going to love this EASY no-mixer apple pie bread!! Soft, tender, moist bread with the contrast of the slightly crunchy crumble topping is PERFECT! Apple Zucchini Bread with Brown Sugar Frosting — Super soft, moist, and topped with the BEST frosting ever!! One bowl, no mixer, EASY recipe for the best apple zucchini bread that everyone LOVES!! Apple Fritter Bread — Soft, fluffy bread that’s stuffed AND topped with apples, cinnamon, and sugar!! Like apple fritters in bread form!! Best apple bread EVER!
