Irish Soda Bread with Raisins

Enjoy this easy recipe for traditional Irish Soda Bread. This quick bread requires no kneading and tastes great on St. Patrick’s Day or any day of the year.

If the idea of baking homemade bread sounds intimidating, yeast-free Irish Soda Bread is the perfect recipe for you!

💕 Why you’ll love this recipe

• A great quick bread for beginners
• It uses simple ingredients and makes a large loaf
• Tender and soft inside with a golden brown crust 
• Juicy raisins add sweetness and color
• Enjoy it for brunch my favorite way — slathered with butter!

 🧾 Ingredients & substitutions

• All purpose white flour: I like the texture of white flour better than whole wheat flour
• Granulated white sugar 
• Baking soda and baking powder: Since there’s no yeast, these leavening agents are needed for the bread rise. They are not interchangeable, so you’ll need both
• Salt: I recommend kosher salt
• Butter: Cut the butter into cubes and let it warm to room temperature for 30-60 minutes before baking with it. If your butter is still too cold, place it in the microwave on a microwave-safe dish for 8-10 seconds. You should be able to press down on it and easily leave a dent
• Raisins: They add a slight sweetness to the tender bread. If you aren’t a fan of regular raisins, substitute golden raisins or dried cranberries
• Caraway seeds: These seeds have a nutty, mild licorice flavor and are optional
• Large eggs: Remove the eggs from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before using. This helps them blend better with the other ingredients
• Buttermilk: Use fresh if you have it. Otherwise, see below for substitutions

Irish soda bread without buttermilk

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, it’s simple to make this easy Irish soda bread recipe with a substitution. One way is to use milk mixed with an acid. 

For each cup of buttermilk, measure out one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Then add enough milk to equal one cup. Stir it together and let the mixture sit for about five minutes. When it looks curdled, it’s good to go.

Plain yogurt and sour cream are also good buttermilk substitutes. For each cup of buttermilk, mix ¼ cup of water with ¾ cup of sour cream or yogurt.

✨How to make the best Irish soda bread

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a round baking dish or cast iron skillet with butter. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for even easier removal of the bread.

Step 2

Toss together the flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder in a large bowl. Using your hands is the best way to keep everything light and fluffy.

Work the small pieces of butter into the flour mixture with your hands, a fork or a pastry cutter. Stir in the raisins and caraway seeds.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the buttermilk and stir well. Pour the liquid mixture into the center of the flour mixture a bit at a time. Stir between each addition, but don’t overmix.

Step 4

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a rough round shape. Place in a greased pan. Dust the top lightly with flour.

Step 5

Using the wrong end of a fork (aka, the end you hold) cut a deep cross into the top of the dough. 

Step 6

Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack. Slice with a sharp knife and serve with butter or jam.

🥖 How to store Irish soda bread

First, make sure the bread is completely cooled. Then wrap the full loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped pieces in a plastic bag or storage container for 3-4 days.

👩‍🍳 Pro tips 

• Don't be afraid to get in there with your hands on this one. Wash them thoroughly, of course, then use them to mix the dry ingredients. This will create a fluffy mixture, helping to maintain a lightness to the finished bread.
• Use your hands also to work in the butter. Be sure your butter is softened, but not melted. I like to leave the butter out on the counter overnight if I know I'm baking the next day. 
• Make sure the ingredients are incorporated but don’t overwork the dough. It will look a little rough and shaggy.
• Once the dough has come together, dust your work surface with flour and dump the bread onto it. Flour the tops and sides as well so that you can more easily form the dough into a ball shape without it sticking to your hands. I like to leave a small pile of flour on the side of my work surface and grab a little as I need it.