A Simple, Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe (2024)

Many years ago, I was looking for an super easy recipe for bread. I opened up my family’s “go-to” Canadian Living cookbook. I opened the book to a recipe for Irish soda bread and fell in love. My Irish soda bread recipe is a little different and celebrates this simple and rustic bread.

Soda bread is a type of bread that does not require yeast as a leavening agent. What does this mean for you as the chef? It means that you don’t need to let the dough sit and rise for hours on end. When you have hungry kids, this is an absolute bonus. Soda bread is simple to make and it instantly became a family favourite.

Not only do I bake this bread for us at home, but it has also become the bread that I love to bring to people’s homes. Arriving with a freshly baked loaf of bread is always a welcomed contribution at any gathering. There is nothing better for dipping into soups, stews, and sauces…delicious. We will be eating it tonight with beef stew. Here’s how to make a good ol’ rustic Irish soda bread.

Irish Soda Bread

4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

Cut cold butter into dry ingredients, using a fork or a pastry cutter, until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

In a small bowl combine eggs and buttermilk. If you don’t have any buttermilk you can make your own. Fill your liquid measuring cup with milk, remove 1 tbsp of milk and add 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Stir.

Pour buttermilk and eggs into the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until dough is wet.

Knead dough, on a lightly floured surface. Only knead the bread 8-10 times.

Form a large ball and place the ball on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to etch an “X” across the ball of dough.

Bake in 350°F oven for 1 hour. You will know it is done when it is golden brown and when it sounds hollow when you knock on the bottom of the bread.

Slice and enjoy.

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Love this recipe? Check out our Cheddar and Herb Biscuits…another perfect little dipper for soups, chilli and stews.Do you make your own bread? If you are looking for a recipe for a traditional loaf of yeast bread, I found this recipe fairly easy to bake. And, if you are looking for another bread recipe…pizza dough…check out my family pizza night post. What is your favourite bread recipe? Feel free to share here in the comments.

Check out all of our fun St. Patrick’s Day ideas for kids – crafts, activities, recipes, and more.

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