0 from 15 votes
Easy Irish Soda Bread
Easy Irish Soda Bread – quick and easy bread recipe without yeast. Make it the traditional way or try my tasty Vegan soda bread variation.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 233 kcal
Course:
Bread
Cuisine:
Irish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) whole milk (or almond milk)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
- 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour or as needed
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 5 tbsp (70g) cold unsalted butter (or vegan block)
- ¾ cup (120g) raisins or other dried fruit, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Combine your choice milk and lemon juice in a measuring jug and leave to stand while you get on with the recipe. The milk will likely curdle a little, that’s totally what we are after!
- Add the 3/4 of the flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt to a mixing bowl and stir together to aerate the dry ingredients. Hold some of the flour back and add it gradually if the dough is too sticky to work with.
- Rub in cold butter or vegan block, until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.
- Add the soured milk and stir so that flour is moistened. The dough will be shaggy and very sticky.
- Add the raisins, if using, and gradually add enough flour until that the bread is not too sticky when mixing with your hands. We want the dough to be on the wet side though.
- Sprinkle flour on your worktop and flour your hands. Gently knead the dough, adding more flour if it is still very sticky. Don’t overwork it – use a very light touch otherwise the bread will tough.
- Quickly shape the dough into a round loaf and score a deep cross using a sharp knife. This helps the bread rise and also “let’s the fairies out” according to Irish lore.
- Place the loaf on a skillet or baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, until the bread is well risen with a golden crust. The bread should sound hollow if you tap the underside.
- Leave the bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing or simply splitting and tucking in!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or mixed spice. Caraway seeds would be a fabulous addition in this slightly sweet raisin soda bread.
- Get creative with the flours! You can use a mix of all purpose flour and wholemeal flour if you like. Bread flour is not ideal as it can make the bread a bit tough.
- Hate raisins? Leave them out or replace them with dried cranberries, chopped dates or mixed citrus peel.
- Make gluten-free Irish soda bread: use your favourite GF flour and one teaspoon of Xanthan Gum (leave out if the flour is already enriched with it) in addition to the remaining ingredients.
Nutrition Information
Calories
233kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
13mg
(4%)
Sodium
371mg
(15%)
Potassium
154mg
(4%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
146IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
62mg
(6%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12slices
Amount Per Serving
Calories 233
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 233kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 13mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 371mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 154mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 146IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 62mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.