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Traditional Irish Soda Bread: Easy, No Yeast Homemade Loaf

A thick slice cut from a homemade soda bread loaf showing its light, airy crumb and golden crust.
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This traditional Irish soda bread recipe is simple to make, requires no yeast, and bakes up quickly. You get a crusty exterior and a soft, comforting interior, perfect for serving with soup or butter.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Optional: ¼ cup raisins or currants

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly flour a baking sheet.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. If using, mix in the sugar and raisins or currants now.
  3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk all at once.
  4. Mix the ingredients quickly with a wooden spoon or your hands until just combined into a soft, slightly sticky dough. Do not overmix.
  5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it 3 or 4 times to bring it together into a round loaf shape.
  6. Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Cut a deep cross into the top of the loaf, about half an inch deep.
  7. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  8. Transfer the crusty homemade loaf to a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing and serving warm.

Notes

  • For a traditional flavor, use wholemeal flour for about half of the all-purpose flour called for in the recipe.
  • If you do not have buttermilk, mix 1 ¾ cups of regular milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
  • This quick bread baking recipe is best eaten the day it is made.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonsprout.com/easy-soda-bread-recipe-no-yeast/