Learn how to make a Traditional Irish Soda Bread that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time of the year when you want to make a quick bread that needs no yeast and no rise time.
In a little more than 30 minutes, you can pull fresh bread out of the oven to enjoy plain or slathered with butter and jam. Thanks to the use of baking soda, there is no need for yeast!
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Table of Contents
A Few Simple Ingredients
To make this soda bread, you just need a few ingredients. You’ll want some type of whole grain flour: whole wheat, spelt, or einkorn will work great. Then you’ll just need a bit of salt and, you guessed it, some baking “soda.” That’s where Irish Soda Bread gets its name!
For the liquid, you’ll need some buttermilk, but don’t worry if you don’t have any. In my Buttermilk Substitutes video, I show you four different ways you can make a buttermilk substitute—any of which you can use in this recipe.
How to Enjoy Soda Bread
Soda Bread is best sliced and enjoyed the day it’s baked. Slather it with butter, and you’ll have a real treat. But don’t worry if you don’t finish it all in one day. Over the next few days, just pop a slice in the toaster for a few seconds, and it will be refreshed just like the day you made it!
Saint Patrick’s Day Recipes
Now that you’ve learned how to make Irish Brown Soda Bread, be sure to check out these other videos where I show you how to make Corned Beef and Cabbage on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot and how to make an Irish Apple Cake. Enjoy them for St. Patrick’s Day or any day!
How to Make Bread Without Yeast – Easy Irish Soda Bread
All it takes is all-purpose flour, baking soda, and 30 minutes in the oven to create this beautiful and tasty bread!
How to Make Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage
Enjoy this Traditional Irish American meal.
How to Make a Traditional Irish Apple Cake
Enjoy this Irish dessert with your St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage.
How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage in the Instant Pot
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this quick and easy recipe.
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Baking with Ancient Grains in the Traditional Foods Kitchen
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Irish Brown Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups Whole wheat flour Or another whole grain flour such as spelt or einkorn.
- 1 cup All-purpose flour Also knows as "Plain" flour.
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda Can substitute with baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Fine ground sea salt Or another fine ground salt
- 3 cups Buttermilk If using baking powder, substitute buttermilk with regular milk. If no buttermilk, you can substitute with milk and 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, yogurt thinned with milk or water, or sour cream thinned with milk or water.
Instructions
- Place rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 425°F (218°C)
- Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- Pour the buttermilk over the dry ingredients and mix with an open hand until all the dry ingredients are moistened. (See the video.) Do not over mix.
- Place dough on a well-floured surface and work it gently into the shape of a round loaf with a flat bottom. (See the video.)
- Transfer the dough to a lined baking sheet, greased cast iron frying pan, or another appropriate baking pan that can accommodate a round loaf.
- Using a sharp knife, make a lengthwise cross on top of the dough, approximately a 1/4 inch deep.
- Brush the top of the dough with milk and sprinkle with salt.
- Place into the preheated oven onto the middle rack. Bake for approximately 30 minutes until the soda bread is a golden brown.
- Using oven mitts or pot holders, remove the bread from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely, and then slice and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Shop for items used in this blog post or video
Favorite Baking Supplies
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Measuring Cups
- Glass Bowls
- Spatula
- Spatula Spoon
- Baking Sheets
- Silicone Baking Mats
- Parchment Paper
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