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Home » Bread Recipes » Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Published: Mar 30, 2020 · Modified: Aug 6, 2022 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Soda Bread is an Irish bread recipe that doesn't need yeast to rise. The bread is light and fluffy on the inside. While buttery and crunchy on the outside.

round loaf of Irish Soda Bread cooling on a cooling rack.

Trying to figure out how to make homemade bread when you can't find yeast? Soda Bread is the answer.

Soda Bread is a no yeast bread that relies on other ingredients to help the bread dough rise while baking.

Baking soda, baking powder, and apple cider vinegar are the ingredients that cause soda bread to rise in the oven.

Soda bread dough in a glass bowl.

Old Fashioned Recipes

I pulled out some of my trusty vintage cookbooks and blew off the dust to bring you this old fashioned Irish Soda Bread recipe today.

This particular old cookbook was published in 1984 by St. John Neumann Parish in Lancaster, Pennslyvania, in the heart of the Amish country.

The Irish Soda Bread recipe was submitted by Rose Gray. The church is still active. I hope one of Rose's family members come across this recipe with fond memories.

If you love easy & amazing recipes join the Flour On My Face Newsletter and get each of my new recipes delivered right to your inbox.

This no yeast soda bread is crunchy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside like a homemade biscuit.

The crust gets its delicious buttery crunch from brushing melted butter on the outside after it has baked.

Prep

  • Prep preheat the oven to 375 F. degrees and grease a large cookie sheet with shortening or butter.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons shortening or butter
  • 1 cup of buttermilk
  • 1 ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Directions

  1. In a large bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk to combine the dry ingredients.
  2. Work the shortening or butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or your hands until pea-shaped pieces are throughout the four.
  3. Mix the buttermilk and apple cider vinegar in a cup and pour it into the dry ingredients.
  4. Use a stiff wooden spoon to mix the wet ingredients into the dry. Knead the dough a few times until it holds shape. Form the dough into a 7-inch round. Place the dough ball onto the greased baking sheet.
  5. With a sharp knife dipped into flour cut an X across the top of the dough.
  6. Bake the soda bread in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Brush the hot loaf of Soda bread with melted butter.
  7. Cool completely before cutting.
  8. Makes one 7 inch loaf of bread.
  9. 12 servings
What does Soda bread taste like?

Soda bread tastes alike like a biscuit. Thick slices of this Irish bread are perfect served with a bowl of soup or stew.

What is the best way to eat Irish soda bread?

Irish soda bread is delicious slathered with butter and topped with jam. It also is perfect served with soups and stews.

Why is soda bread called soda bread?

Soda bread is made with baking soda instead of yeast. Baking soda is used to leaven the bread instead of yeast.

Recipe Expert Tips

  • Butter: No substitutions for butter when making any type of bread.
  • Buttermilk: Use real butter milk to make this soda bread recipe. Buttermilk combined with the baking soda in this recipe helps with the bread rise. It also help make the bread soft and tender like a biscuit.
  • Baking soda: Check the expiration on you baking soda before using it to make this recipe. The baking soda should be fresh so it is strong enough to help the soda bread rise.
Freshly baked Irish Soda Bread on the baking sheet fresh out of the oven.

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freshly baked round loaf of Irish Soda Bread on a metal cooling rack.

Irish Soda Bread

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face
Irish Soda Bread is a homemade bread recipe that doesn't need yeast to rise. The bread is light and fluffy on the inside while buttery and crunchy on the outside.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine Irish
Share by Text
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 129 kcal

Ingredients  

  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons shortening (or butter)
  • 1 cup of buttermilk
  • 1 ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 F. degrees and grease a large cookie sheet with shortening or butter.
  • In a large bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk to combine the dry ingredients.
  •  Work the shortening or butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or your hands until pea-shaped pieces are throughout the four.
  •  Mix the buttermilk and apple cider vinegar in a cup and pour it into the dry ingredients. 
  • Use a stiff wooden spoon to mix the wet ingredients into the dry. Knead the dough a few times until it holds shape. Form the dough into a 7-inch round. Place the dough ball onto the greased baking sheet.
  •  With a sharp knife dipped into flour cut an X across the top of the dough.
  • Bake the soda bread in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Brush the hot loaf of Soda bread with melted butter.
  •  Cool completely before cutting.
  •  Makes one 7 inch loaf of bread. 

Video

Recipe Expert Tips

  • Butter: No substitutions for butter when making any type of bread.
  • Buttermilk: Use real butter milk to make this soda bread recipe. Buttermilk combined with the baking soda in this recipe helps with the bread rise. It also help make the bread soft and tender like a biscuit.
  • Baking soda: Check the expiration on you baking soda before using it to make this recipe. The baking soda should be fresh so it is strong enough to help the soda bread rise.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Slice | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 245mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg
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About Arlene Mobley

Arlene Mobley author of Flour On My Face-a Food & Lifestyle website helping busy families get dinner on the table by serving easy recipes every week.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leanna

    March 08, 2023 at 4:57 pm

    This recipe looks really, and I mean Really good. I also love to find and collect old cookbooks, especially the community ones where ladies shared their favorite recipes. Pinned to try and thank you.

    Reply
  2. Wendy

    March 24, 2021 at 4:45 pm

    What temperature do I preheat?

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      March 25, 2021 at 11:49 pm

      Prep preheat the oven to 375 F. degrees and grease a large cookie sheet with shortening or butter.

      Reply

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Arlene Mobley Food & Lifestyle Blogger


Hi, I'm Arlene Mobley the cook & photographer here at Flour On My Face. I have been cooking for my family for over 35 years. I love sharing recipes to help busy families get dinner on the table. Learn more here

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