Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by baking some of your very own homemade soda bread! With just 5 ingredients and no kneading or rising required, this is sure to become a bread recipe you’ll make time and time again.
St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching and there’s definitely no better time to start baking and cooking up delicious Irish food. Many beloved dishes of mine have Irish origins and Ireland is home to one of my favourite quick breads, soda bread.
Soda bread unlike most bread recipes takes just a matter of minutes to prepare because it doesn’t have to be kneaded so you will have it all ready to go and be baked in less than 10 minutes – something that isn’t usually the case when you’re baking bread! It isn’t just kneading that you can forget about with this recipe, it also doesn’t require any time rising as there is no yeast added.
Whilst I do really enjoy making bread, sometimes I want homemade bread, but without too much effort involved and having to wait hours for it to rise and then having to wait even longer for it to bake.
Soda bread is spectacular for something so quick and simple to prepare!
Soda bread topped with sliced Cheddar and homemade Caramelised Onion Chutney
There are tonnes of soda bread recipes out there. Each and every one is different, some add dried fruit such as cranberries, currants, sultanas, raisins or spices such as caraway seeds. Others switch the white flour for wholemeal or use a mix of the two.
I always get a feeling of real satisfaction when I’ve baked anything right from scratch. It’s nice to know exactly what ingredients have gone into what you’re eating and it’s always a great feeling when something you’ve made tastes incredible. Soda bread is meant to look homemade, it will have knobbly bits all over but for me the more rustic something looks the better!
This bread can be eaten by itself just liberally spread with butter or even dunked into a warming bowl of stew or soup. We ate this soda bread with a bowl of my mum’s Irish beef and Guinness stew which is our idea of proper Irish comfort food.
Ingredients:
450g (3 and 1/2 cups) plain/all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting and shaping
1 teaspoon caster or granulated sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
1 teaspoon salt
350-425ml (1 and 1/2 to 2 cups) buttermilk – to make your own buttermilk mix 350-425ml of milk with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 230°C / 210°C Fan / 450°F / Gas Mark 8. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the buttermilk.
2. Mix through the buttermilk and combine until you have a soft and very slightly sticky dough – try not to over mix as this will make the bread tough. Remember this dough recipe is very similar to biscuit/scone dough, you want to handle the dough as little as possible.
3. Once mixed line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Pat the dough out onto the tray into a round approx. 1.5 inches/4cm thick. Cut a deep cross into the centre using a sharp knife. Bake for 15 minutes then turn the oven temperature down to 200°C / 180°C Fan / 400°F / Gas Mark 6 and bake the soda bread for another 30 minutes.
4. Check the bread is completely baked by tapping the base of the bread. If sounds hollow then the bread is baked fully, the bread should also have taken on a golden colour on the outside.
5. Cool the bread on a wire rack completely before serving. Then slice up and serve with butter. Bread will store at room temperature in a bread bag or airtight container for up to 3 days.
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Simple and delicious. I haven’t had Irish Soda Bread in a long time, but think I’ll make it for St. Paddy’s Day this year. Thank you!
Irish soda bread that actually looks fluffy instead of dry!! I’m so excited about this.
Love your soda bread. I saved the recipe to make on St Patricks day. It looks just perfect.
Yum! Looks like it came straight from the bakery!
I think I made Irish bread only once. I don’t bake much anymore, I plan to start making a good fragrant loaf soon again. I’ll definitely try this easy recipe (I hate kneading!).
There’s nothing better than a classic. I love the simplicity of this bread!
Oh, I’d almost forgotten that it’s soon St. Patricks Day – thanks for reminding me 🙂
I abolutely adore Irish soda bread too! I just looove the crust and the soft centre. Thanks for sharing
So pretty! This looks amazing 🙂
I made your bread this evening, it’s absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe.. 🙂
Looks delicious!! I was planning to make a rye soda bread for St. Patrick’s Day this year… my plans may have just changed!!
I’m making it this weekend!! Thanks!
It’s been whole 2 weeks since I had Irish soda bread and this is making me want more! Since St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, there’s a great excuse. 🙂 This looks delicious, Jess!
Oooh girl, your soda bread looks delicious! Love that we’re soda bread twinning this week 🙂
This soda bread looks perfect, Jessica! I love your gorgeous pictures. Sounds so delicious!
Homemade bread is the BEST! This one looks perfect. Happy St. Patty’s!
I love Irish soda bread! This looks really amazing!
This Irish Soda Bread looks stunning!
Things simple are the best in life ! This bread must be so good ! In breakfast with butter and orange mermelade….Happy weekend !
I think this is the fluffiest looking Irish soda bread I’ve sen which makes it the best one I’ve seen 😉
I haven’t made soda bread in so long, and your photos really make me want to make some today! Pinned!!
Hi Jess …… I am so so happy I found your blog! It’s beautiful and easy to read. I would love to bake your Soda Bread but would like to know …. Would I get a bicarbonate of soda aftertaste? I am not fond of the bicarb taste.
Hi Zulie – thank you so much for your lovely comment. It has made my day!
You honestly can’t taste the bicarbonate flavour in this soda bread. This is one of my favourite bread recipes. I hope you enjoy it!