Irish Soda Bread Recipes Easy

Searching for the best Irish soda bread recipe? Look no further! This authentic recipe comes straight from Ireland. So easy to make with just 4 ingredients.

Today’s is super-special, because as you may know, I just returned from a fabulous trip to Ireland, where I learned all about Irish baking, straight from the experts! I’m so thrilled to be sharing this authentic Irish soda bread recipe with you!

If you are looking for some really fun St. Patty’s Day foods, be sure to check out my Shamrock Shake Macarons, Pot of Gold Cupcakes, and Rainbow Fruity Pebble Cake.

Original Irish Soda Bread Recipe From Ireland

I learned it at the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork, Ireland. I have always wanted to go there, so it was truly a “pinch me” kind of moment! It really felt like a dream come true to learn real Irish baking from none other than Darina Allen herself. Such an incredible privilege!

She taught us that soda bread is so easy to make from just 4 simple ingredients, and it comes together in just a few minutes. If you’re craving homemade bread but you don’t have time for a big fuss, this is the recipe for you!

You can jazz it up with interesting add-ins if you’d like (more on that later), but as it is it makes a perfect loaf that you’ll love to eat (with real Irish butter!) for breakfast or as an appetizer or side dish to your meal.

Easy No Yeast Irish Soda Bread

It’s much faster than most other bread recipes, because it does not contain any yeast. Soda bread is leavened with just baking soda, so you don’t have to wait a long time for it to rise.

You can whip up this homemade bread in less than an hour and have warm, freshly baked bread on the dinner table for your family in no time at all.

Next, you’re going to add in buttermilk. The exact amount can vary based on the humidity in your kitchen on any given day, so you’ll want to start with a smaller amount and work your way up as needed.

Easy Skillet Irish Soda Bread

I really think there isn’t any good substitute for real buttermilk in this recipe. If you search around, you’ll see that it’s possible to sour your own milk by adding lemon juice or white vinegar to regular milk, but in my experience that type of substitute only works well when there are lots of other ingredients (like in chocolate cake, for example). With a recipe as simple as this, where there are only 4 ingredients, I think the buttermilk takes on a lot more importance.

It’s definitely worth seeking out real buttermilk if you want to make this, and if you can get your hands on whole milk buttermilk, by all means do it. It’s thicker and richer tasting, and I can find it easily in the dairy section of my regular local supermarket.

Once you’ve added about 1 1/4 cups of buttermilk, begin mixing the dough with your clean hands. This is the way we were taught by the chefs at Ballymaloe! They taught us to make a “claw” with our fingers and mix the dough gently by hand.

Easy White Soda Bread

If your dough seems really dry, add more buttermilk, a little at a time, until it gathers into a big, sticky ball.

Flour the blade of your knife, and score the bread in a criss-cross pattern. This is traditional for Irish soda bread! It helps the loaf to rise evenly in the oven.

Last but not least, use the tip of your knife to puncture a slit in each of the 4 quarters. This is so important! My teacher at Ballymaloe explained that you have to do this in order to let the faeries out!

Irish White Soda Bread Recipe

Bake the bread at a very high temperature initially (450 degrees F; this is not a typo!), then turn the oven down and finish baking at a slightly lower temp. This will really help the bread to rise nice and fluffy!

You’ll know your soda bread is done baking when it’s golden and crusty, and it makes a hollow sound when you tap it with the tips of your fingers.

But it can also be baked with a few handfuls of just about any kind of mix-in you can imagine! Here are a few ideas:

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

There’s lots of specific info in the recipe card below, but I can tell you that it is not gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, or vegan.

While this bread can certainly be made a few days ahead, you probably won’t need to do that since it’s so quick to make.

But if you’re really pinched for time, it will keep for about 4 to 5 days at room temperature. Just be sure to wrap it tightly so it doesn’t become stale or dried out.

Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread

Irish soda bread can be re-warmed in a low oven (170 degrees F). Wrap it in foil first, and heat it gently until it’s warmed through.

Wrap this loaf up tightly in plastic wrap, then slip it into a freezer bag. It will last in the freezer for several months. Just thaw it at room temperature, and re-warm it as noted above.

If you’d like to see more of what I experienced on my recent trip to Ireland, check out the “Ireland” highlight on my Instagram!

Cinnamon Sugar Soda Bread

And be sure to enter Williams Sonoma’s sweepstakes to win an Ireland trip of your own! Here’s the link: FREE Trip to Ireland.

Also if you happen to be in the Philadelphia area, I’d love to see you at the Authentic Ireland Cooking Class I’m teaching this weekend! Here’s where to register: Irish Baking Class.

*There is really no good substitute for buttermilk in Irish soda bread.  Try to use whole milk buttermilk if you can find it. 

Irish Soda Bread Muffins {whole Wheat Recipe!}

Calories: 128 kcal , Carbohydrates: 25 g , Protein: 4 g , Fat: 1 g , Saturated Fat: 1 g , Cholesterol: 2 mg , Sodium: 131 mg , Potassium: 64 mg , Fiber: 1 g , Sugar: 1 g , Vitamin A: 37 IU , Calcium: 31 mg , Iron: 1 mg

Allergen Free Appetizers and Snacks Breakfast and Brunch Easy to Make Fall/Winter Fun for Kids Gift-able Holiday Quick Breads Savory Seasonal Simply Perfect St. Patrick's Day VideosTRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD — This Traditional Irish soda bread is made with just a few simple ingredients but bakes up into a beautiful, bakery quality loaf.

I’ve tried several recipes for Irish soda bread, and this Traditional Irish Soda Bread is by far my favorite. It bakes up into such a beautiful loaf that I can hardly believe it isn’t a yeast bread.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Even better, it’s so incredibly easy to make, especially if you’re impatient like me and don’t want to wait around forthe dough to rise.

I was totally shocked at how good this was. Made this yesterday for St. Patrick’s day and was a little nervous by the short ingredient list. No butter? But it was amazing & everyone had more than one piece! ~ Lindsey

The trick (or at least I’m assuming it’s the trick) is baking the bread with an inverted cake pan on top. I don’t know what kind of scientific baking magic that inverted pan creates.

Easy Irish Soda Bread

I just know this recipe never fails me and I get a beautiful, bakery quality loaf of Irish soda bread every time.

Like so many delicious breads, Irish Soda Bread is theproduct of a time when fancy ingredients weren’t available or affordable, so it’s made with only the most basic ingredients.

I have made this recipe three times. I have made it for our card group for a St. Patrick’s Day potluck with and without raisins. It was a big hit. Love the crispy crust. ~ Olivia

Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe (with Raisins)

For some reason, I tend to only make this breadaround St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s so simple and deliciousI reallyought to make it more often.

I made this bread this evening and it did not disappoint!! It makes a beautiful bread and tastes great!! I will be making this quite a bit! ~ Lori

Gorgeous bread – delicious! This is the second time I’ve made it and sent the recipe to a friend who is going to make it this weekend. ~ Tera

Irish Brown Bread • Traditional Irish Recipe!

I just finished baking this bread. I toasted some dry rosemary and put that with the dry ingredients. Smells amazing and it turned out so pretty. Thank you for the recipe. It was super easy. ~ Jaime

I added about 1/3 cup sugar because I like it with a bit of sweetness. This came out PERFECT. Thank you!!! I will be using this every time!! ~ Amber

This traditional Middle Eastern yeast bread is grilled then slathered with butter and sprinkled with garlic salt for a savory side dish that is hard to resist.

Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe

These soft, tender biscuits are loaded with cheddar cheese, chives and a hint of garlic. So easy to make, they're a perfect addition to almost any meal.

This easy yeast bread is sweetened with honey and loaded with oats. Which makes this no-knead honey oat bread perfect for toast, sandwiches and snacking.Quick and easy, this Irish soda bread recipe is a classic. Our version is made with flour, baking soda, buttermilk, raisins, egg, and a touch