Traditional Irish Soda Bread
There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh Irish soda bread coming out of the oven. This traditional recipe is simple, hearty, and full of rustic charm. There is no yeast or long rising times required. With just a handful of everyday ingredients, you can have a golden, crusty loaf on the table in under an hour. Perfect alongside a bowl of soup, a hearty Irish stew, or simply spread with butter and jam, this soda bread is a true taste of comfort.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius or 400 degrees fahrenheit
- Make sure to coat the inside of the bread tin well with oil
- Place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well
- Whisk the egg, add to the oil, treacle and the buttermilk
- Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients
- Mix well, adding more buttermilk if necessary (mixture should be soft and slightly sloppy)
- Pour into oiled tin and if you wish pop some seeds on top such as sesame, sunflower or mixed seed like I have here
- Bake for about an hour or until the bread is nice and crusty and sounds hollow when tapped
- Leave to cool on a wire rack before cutting
Tips & Variations for Irish Soda Bread
- Don’t overwork the dough – mix just until it comes together. Overmixing makes the bread dense.
- Mark with a cross – traditionally, a cross is cut into the top of the loaf to help it bake evenly (and, as folklore says, to “let the fairies out”).
- Use buttermilk if possible – it gives the best rise and flavour, but you can substitute with milk + a squeeze of lemon juice if needed.
- Storage – soda bread is best eaten fresh, but will keep for 2–3 days wrapped in a tea towel. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Brown Soda Bread – swap half the white flour for wholemeal for a nuttier flavour and denser crumb.
- Spotted Dog – add a handful of raisins or currants for a sweet twist.
- Seeded Soda Bread – sprinkle in pumpkin, sunflower, or sesame seeds for extra crunch.
If you give this traditional Irish soda bread a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and let me know if you made any twists of your own. And if you share a photo, be sure to tag me on Instagram @chloegrowsandcooks so I can see your loaf. 🍞✨
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