Homemade Irish Soda Bread: Easy and Quick Recipe

This rustic loaf of Irish soda bread is perfect any time of the year. Crusty and uniquely flavored, you will reach for this easy bread recipe over and over!

It’s crunchy crust and soft crumb are the perfect combination!

Give this easy, traditional recipe a try for St. Patrick’s day.

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This bread is a quick bread, meaning, it uses baking powder and baking soda as the leavening agent. It’s a traditional bread and is quite delicious!

Why I love this recipe for traditional Irish Soda Bread

I love sourdough bread and yeasted bread, however, there is something so simple about this Irish Soda Bread.

It comes together in just a few minutes and bakes into a beautiful loaf that will impress your family and friends!

Because this is a quick bread, it’s perfect for unexpected company. From start to finish, you can have a wonderful loaf of bread in about an hour.

The flavor of this bread is different from yeast bread or sourdough bread. It has a bit of a saltier flavor and is quite delicious with any meal!

Honestly, this is the easiest homemade bread to start with for a new baker. You don’t have to let the bread rise, it’s mix and bake!

To make this bread you will need:

This recipe uses simple ingredients you probably have on hand making this the perfect bread recipe for

1. All Purpose Flour – You can use fresh milled flour, bread flour, or store-bought whole wheat flour as well. A mix of whole wheat and all purpose make for even more flavor and nutrition.
2. Softened butter – Of course, Irish butter would be perfect:)
3. Baking soda/Sodium Bicarbonate
4. Baking powder
5. Salt
6. Sugar
7. Egg
8. Milk
9. White vinegar or Lemon juice

**You can substitute the milk and vinegar with buttermilk or milk kefir**

Full Ingredient amounts in the recipe card below

To mill my own wheat berries, I use a Nutrimill Grain Mill (use my coupon: rose20 for $20 off!)

This recipe would be great if you substitute 1 cup of flour with fresh milled flour!

Looking for a Sourdough Bread Recipe? Click here!

How to make Irish Soda Bread

Before you begin putting the dough together, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

In a measuring cup, add 1 cup whole milk and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Set aside to curdle.

This will make a sour milk similar to buttermilk. If you have buttermilk on hand, use that.

In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients. Add the butter and cut it in to the flour mixture.

Add the milk and egg.

Work into the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon or dough whisk.

You may need a couple of tablespoons of milk to bring it all together, but, only add a little at a time.

You want the dough to just come together like biscuit or scone-like texture. It will be a shaggy dough.

Once it has come together, turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly into a smooth ball of dough.

Traditional soda bread is a round loaf.

Transfer dough to a baking sheet or cast-iron skillet. You can add parchment paper or spray with a little olive oil.

For my favorite cast iron pan, click here! (use my coupon: THEROSEHOMESTEAD for 10% off!)

Cut the top of the loaf with a sharp knife in a cross hatch pattern and brush the top with an egg.

Place in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Internal temperature should be 190-205 degrees F with an instant thermometer. When you tap the bottom of the loaf, you should have a hollow sound.

Let the bread cool on a cooling rack at room temperature before slicing.

Slice bread with a serrated knife for the perfect slices.

Serving Suggestions

This bread is perfect with lots of butter and honey or jam.

It also works beautifully as toast in the mornings with eggs.

Storage

Store in an airtight container or plastic bag on the counter for 3-4 days.

Freeze in freezer safe bag for up to 3 months.