Easy Irish Soda Bread

This easy Irish soda bread with buttermilk is a traditional quick bread that’s soft, hearty, and ready in an hour. No yeast, no rising, just simple pantry ingredients and a golden crust with a tender crumb.

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Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk

This easy Irish soda bread with buttermilk requires no yeast and no rise time, making it one of the simplest homemade breads you can bake. The baking soda gives it lift while the buttermilk creates a tender crumb and subtle tang. It bakes up with a rustic golden crust and hearty texture, similar to an Irish scone or homemade biscuit.

Made with simple pantry ingredients and ready in about an hour, this classic quick bread comes together in one bowl with minimal kneading. Serve it warm alongside crockpot corned beef and cabbage for a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal or enjoy a slice with jam for breakfast.

Recipe Ingredients

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Baking staples: Flour, sugar baking powder, baking soda, salt and an egg.
• Kerrygold Irish butter: This is a specialty butter that is a MUST for a classic Irish bread recipe. Slightly softened butter is best.
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk tenderizes the loaf. Make your own homemade buttermilk with lemon juice or white vinegar or use store-bought buttermilk.

How to Make Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk

In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients including flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork. Stir in the buttermilk and egg.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with your hands until the bread forms a ball.

At this point, you can cut the dough in half to make 2 smaller loaves or 1 large loaf. Press it down and round the edges and then use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ in the top.

Combine the melted butter and buttermilk in a small bowl and then brush half of it on top of the loaf. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 55 minutes, brushing the remaining buttermilk mixture on top halfway through.

Recipe Tips

• Avoid dense bread: While a traditional Irish soda bread is more dense than bread with yeast, over-kneading the bread will make it too dense. Handle the dough gently!
• Sticky dough: If you find that the dough is overly sticking, add more flour a small amount at a time until the right consistency is reached.
• Fresh baking soda: Active baking soda is needed to create a proper light and airy loaf. Check yours by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to a bowl of vinegar, if it bubbles quickly, it’s good to use.
• Cold buttermilk: Using cold buttermilk creates the best reaction with the soda.
• Sweet version with raisins: Mix in 1 cup of raisins then sprinkle with sugar before baking. You can also add caraway seeds!

Serving Suggestions

• Plain: The flavor is so great that you don’t need to top this buttermilk Irish bread with much when serving. Try enjoying a slice with a little bit of butter and a drizzle of honey.
• Jams or spreads: Strawberry jam is our favorite but any jam or spread works.
• Soups and stews: Serve with comforting and hearty soups or stews like beef bourguignon or cabbage soup.