This recipe for an old-fashioned Irish Soda Bread makes a moist, dense bread with a hint of sweetness and a delicious, chewy crust.
You don’t need to be an experienced bread baker to give this easy recipe a try. Since this type of bread doesn’t rely on yeast to rise, simply mix the ingredients, knead briefly, give it a rest, and it’s ready for the oven.
Ways to serve Irish soda bread
With its slightly sweet flavor, chewy crust and moist texture this bread can be served a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions:
- For breakfast: Toast the bread lightly, spread with whipped butter and your favorite marmalade or jam. Serve as part of a traditional Irish breakfast if desired.
- As a first course before dinner: Make a simple dipping sauce with melted butter, a little honey and a touch of balsamic vinegar.
- As a side with a hearty stew: Warm slices of bread in the oven and serve plain or with salted butter.
This Irish soda bread recipe is part of our St. Patrick’s Day recipe collection which includes Shepherd’s Pie, Lamb Stew and more.
Irish Soda Bread
This recipe for an old-fashioned Irish Soda Bread makes a moist, dense bread with a hint of sweetness and a delicious, chewy crust.
Ingredients
- 1 –1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 –1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Add the buttermilk and mix just until a soft dough forms.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently for about 1 minute to blend the ingredients more thoroughly.
- Form the dough into a ball and flatten slightly to form a 6 to 7-inch round. Dust with a little bit of flour and slash an “X” in the top with the tip of a sharp knife. Allow the bread to rest for 15 minutes.
- Once rested, bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and crusty. Cool for 10 minutes on wire rack before slicing.
Nutrition
Calories: 257, Total Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 467mg, Carbohydrates: 54g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Protein: 8g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Thank you I really like all your foods I love to try them most of them
I love your Irish soda bread recipe. Just made it again today. You have a lovely site–beautiful pictures; wonderful recipes. And, I am just a bit prejudiced towards your site.
Hi Jennie,
Glad you like the soda bread. We went to an Irish pub recently and they served their soda bread with a Guinness stout reduction for dipping – pretty tasty stuff!