I ate Irish Soda Bread for the first time a few years ago. It was this delicious, dense, biscuit-like bread that I slathered with butter and enjoyed with a good cup of coffee.
A friend made Irish Soda Bread for a bake sale fundraiser, and while it was nowhere near St. Patrick’s Day, it sold like hotcakes. When I ate it, I could see why.
It was unlike other breads I had ever eaten before. Almost a bit like cake but also still very much bread. It was also slightly sweet in a light and surprising way.
The reason for its unique texture is due to the lack of yeast. Instead of using yeast to help the bread rise, it uses baking soda. Hence the name Soda Bread.
So, what exactly is Irish Soda Bread?
Irish Soda Bread is one of the easiest brads to make. It’s a very low maintenance bread, unlike a sour dough. Traditionally, it contained a few simple ingredients that included:
- Flour
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Baking soda
That said, I added a few more ingredients in to give the bread more of a rich flavor. Most modern traditional recipes like mine will also include butter, an egg and a bit of sugar.
How does it work without yeast?
I mentioned that the baking soda is used in place of yeast in Irish Soda Bread. But, it is actually a chemical reaction between the baking soda and the buttermilk that produces carbon dioxide and causes the bread to rise.
Is Irish Soda Bread really Irish?
Well…technically no…but sort of. The first soda bread has been traced to American Indians who used pearl ash to help their breads rise. But then the process was adopted in Ireland in the 1830s and the rest is history.
Ireland was one of the poorer countries at that time and the people didn’t have an abundance of ingredients to work with. Irish Soda Bread was born more out of necessity using the inexpensive ingredients they had on hand at the time.
Why the X in Irish Soda Bread?
The X on Irish Soda Bread is actually a cross. Some legends say that it was to “let the devil out” while baking the bread and other places say it was done to make the bread break apart.
Whatever the reason, the X (or cross) is an important element. It actually helps the bread to cook through. Because the bread is so dense if you don’t cook it to the right temperature it might be a bit undercooked in the center. Making a nice, deep X in the bread allows the heat to get to the center.
What to eat it with
As I mentioned in the opening, I like to eat Irish Soda Bread with butter and have it as a snack. But, it was traditionally eaten with the Irish soups and stews. It’s really perfect to eat either way. It’s also very delightful with some butter topped with jam too. It turns it into a bit of a breakfast bread.
Storing the bread
Since it is a baked good, you’re not going to get a long shelf life out of Irish Soda Bread. It is best to make it and eat it in the same day. However, if you store it in an airtight container then you might be able to get three or four days out of it. You can also freeze it just as you would other baked goods. Here is one good option and here is another one.
Thank you so much for visiting today! I hope you will come back and visit again. Get the full, printable recipe for my Irish Soda Bread recipe below.
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Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
Irish Soda Bread Ingredients
- 4 cups of flour
- 1 and 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 4 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup softened butter (one stick)
- 1 egg
Glaze
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Mix together the dry ingredients: Flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Use a whisk to make sure it is well combined.
- Add in the wet ingredients: buttermilk, butter, egg and use a hand mixer to help combine everything.
- Turn out the dough on a floured surface and kneed it for about 10 minutes. Dust it with flour as needed. It's done when it is about the consistency of Playdough.
- Form dough into a loaf and put it on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. The parchment paper is going to be important to keep the bottom of the bread from over cooking.
- Cut a large X in to the top of the dough. This is very important to help the dough cook through.
- Add the dough to the oven for 15 minutes.
- While the bread is cooking, make the glaze by melting butter (microwave or stovetop) over a low flame and let it rest for a few minutes. Continue to mix it on the stove top to keep it from burning.
- Add the buttermilk to the butter and mix well. Continue to mix occasionally.
- When the 15 minutes are done, take the bread out of the oven and and brush the glaze over the top of it. Then put it back into the oven for another 15 minutes.
- When that 15 minutes is done, take the bread out of the oven and glaze it again. Then put it back in the oven for another 15 minutes.
- When that 15 minutes is up, use a tooth pick and check the middle of your bread. If it comes out clean it is done. If it doesn't, glaze it again and put it back in for a final 10 minutes.
- When done, let the bread rest for 20 minutes. Then serve with butter, jam or with a stew or soup.
Oh yummmmm! I haven’t had Irish soda bread in forever! I need to make some ASAP!
Tonights meal needs some bread. I have the corn beef in the slow cooker so time to make this bread.
I am excited to try this! I just love homemade bread. This looks so tasty.
It looks so yummy, I’ll have to make it once, especially since I’m stuck at home in quarantine
Who knew Irish soda bread was not really Irish. I do not bake too much but I have to try this bread soon and make it with one of my favorite dishes.
I love to add currants or cranberries to my Irish Soda Bread
I’ve actually never tried to make Irish soda bread at home. This looks really yummy. It looks like it would be perfect to have with dinner.
Irish soda bread is one of my favorites! Yours looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try your recipe.
This looks so good. I love soda bread. It’s one of my favorite breads. It’s been awhile since I’ve had it though. I’ll have to give this recipe a try soon.
I made this once a long time ago. I didn’t know what the x is for though, that is so interesting!
We love making Irish Soda Bread. Yours looks fantastic!
I have been missing out. I have never had Irish soda bread before. I really want to try it.
I love homemade bread! We need to make this week as we are trapped in the house!
I love how easy this bread is to make! I think this one will be my new favorite bread recipe!
I’ve never had Irish Soda Bread, but since soup is on the menu plan for tomorrow night, I might need to make a loaf tomorrow. It looks and sounds delicious!
This looks so good! I’ll definitely make this even after St. Patrick’s Day!
Interesting I never heard of Irish Soda. Will have to ty this. Thanks for sharing.
My husband’s Irish and his mom used to make this every year. I offered but he didn’t want it this year but I kinda do
I have never actually had soda bread! It would be fun to make this with the kids while we are home.
This recipe sounds easy enough to make. The final result looks delicious and airy. I totally want to give this a try this weekend.
This looks like such a simple and filling bread. Will be trying soon!
Such a good recipe. Much like the one my Irish great-grandmother used. The recipe was in her head, so it was lost when she passed.
I have never heard of this type of bread before. I’ve never made bread either. Looks yummy.
Gosh that bread looks amazing! I’m going to have to try it soon!
This is such a great recipe – I mean who doesn’t love some Irish Soda Bread! I’ve not tried making it myself before but I’m going to change that for sure!
This is very interesting I never had soda bread before. But it surely looks delicious like its crunchy outside and soft in the inside.
I love the easy to follow recipe and just 4 basic ingredients. I will have to try making this tomorrow. We have to try and be creative with our meals, especially now that our area is on community quarantine because of the virus.
This bread has been on my to do list for a while. Excited to try your recipe!