There’s something truly special about preparing the dishes our grandparents once made—using simple ingredients, a hands-on approach, and plenty of love. In our home, we cherish keeping these traditions alive, especially through classic Irish recipes like this Irish Soda Bread. It’s a delicious reminder of our heritage, childhood memories, and the warmth of family.
Irish Soda Bread is one of our all-time favourites! It’s simple, comforting, and just feels like a warm hug from the oven. Best of all, it’s made with just five store cupboard ingredients, so you can pull it together anytime—whether you’re planning a Sunday brunch or just fancy something homemade with your cuppa in the afternoon.
But it’s more than just a recipe to us. It was one of the very first things my mum taught me to bake. I remember standing beside her in the kitchen, watching her mix the dough with her hands and telling me how her mother used to do it the same way. No fancy equipment, no fuss—just real, honest food made with love.
Make It Your Own
One of the things I love most about soda bread is how versatile it is. You can keep it plain and savoury, perfect with soup, cheese, or a generous spread of butter. Or you can make it sweet—try adding a handful of raisins, a sprinkle of sugar, or even a pinch of cinnamon. Some days we throw in herbs and seeds, other times we keep it just as my mum did—simple and classic.
It’s the kind of recipe that’s forgiving, flexible, and always full of heart.
So if you’ve never made soda bread before, give it a go. It’s a great one to bake with kids (little hands love mixing the dough), and a lovely way to pass on a piece of tradition. And if it’s already a family favourite in your house too, we’d love to hear your version!
Here’s to good bread, great memories, and keeping the stories of the past alive—one loaf at a time.
Get the Kids Involved
Irish Soda bread is one of those brilliant recipes that’s perfect for baking with kids—no yeast, no waiting around for it to rise, and no fancy equipment needed. Just a bowl, a wooden spoon, and a bit of messy fun.
Here are a few easy ways to get little hands involved:
- Measuring and pouring: Kids love being in charge of measuring out the flour, salt, and baking soda. It’s a great way to sneak in a bit of learning while you’re at it!
- Making the “well” in the flour is a fun moment—especially when they get to pour in the buttermilk.
- Mixing the dough with their hands is messy but satisfying (and way more fun than using a spoon).
- Shaping the loaf on the counter lets them get creative—and it doesn’t need to be perfect. Rustic is part of the charm!
- Cutting the cross on top is a great job for older kids, with supervision.
And best of all? They’ll love tasting something they helped to make—especially warm from the oven with a bit of butter or jam. It’s a lovely way to spend time together, pass on family traditions, and make some floury, laughter-filled memories along the way.
How We Eat Our Irish Soda Bread
There’s no wrong way to enjoy soda bread—but we definitely have our favourites!
Fresh out of the oven, still warm, with a thick layer of real butter melting into every slice… that’s hard to beat. Sometimes we keep it simple and savoury—served with a bowl of my Super quick: Sweet Potato Soup, 4 ingredients or alongside Tender Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker: The Ultimate Comfort Food. It’s perfect for soaking up all those comforting flavours.
Other times, especially in the mornings, we’ll toast a few slices and top them with jam or honey—the perfect start to the day with a cup of tea. The kids love it with a bit of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar (a little treat that feels special but is still homemade).
And when we make a sweeter version—maybe with raisins or a handful of chopped dates—we love it with a spread of cream cheese or a dollop of Kid-Friendly Chia Seed Berry Jam: The Healthier Way to Spread the Love for an afternoon snack.
Leftovers (if there are any!) are brilliant the next day, toasted or even used for sandwiches. It’s one of those bakes that just works with everything, which is probably why we keep coming back to it again and again.
The Ingredients
If you’re new to soda bread, you’ll be happy to know it’s made with just a handful of simple ingredients—most of which you probably already have at home. Here’s what each one does and a few tips along the way:
1. Plain or all-purpose flour
- This is the base of your bread—it gives it structure and body.
- We usually use plain or all-purpose flour, but you can also do a mix of white and wholemeal (whole wheat) flour if you like a heartier loaf.
- Tip: If using all wholemeal flour, the bread will be denser—so a mix gives you the best of both worlds!
2. Baking Soda
- This is your rising agent—soda bread doesn’t use yeast!
- When baking soda reacts with the acid in buttermilk, it creates little bubbles that help the bread rise quickly in the oven.
- Important: Make sure your baking soda is fresh—if it’s too old, the bread may not rise properly.
3. Salt
- Brings out the flavour and balances the dough.
- If you forget the salt, the bread can taste a bit flat—so don’t skip it!
4. Buttermilk
- Buttermilk adds moisture, a slight tang, and reacts with the baking soda to make the bread rise.
- No buttermilk? No worries. Just mix:
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar
- into 1 ¾ cups of milk
Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, and you’ve got a quick homemade version that works just as well.
5. Love ❤️ (a generous helping!)
- Okay, not a real ingredient, but honestly, it’s the most important one. This is a recipe passed down through generations, made by hand, and meant to be shared—so don’t forget to fill your bake with love!
Irish soda bread
Ingredients
- 450 g plain flour
- 1 heaped teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1 heaped teaspoon salt
- 300 ml milk of choice
- 1 tablespoons white or cider vinegar or lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven 170c. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix really well.
- To mimic buttermilk: Measure the milk into a jug, add the vinegar, mix, let it sit for a few minutes to turn sour. (Buttermilk is sour/acidic milk too)
- Then pour enough of the sour milk into the bowl, mix with a fork until the dough comes together.
- The dough should be soft but not too sticky. Add more liquid or flour if needed.
- Knead the dough lightly, until it comes into a round shape. Put it on the baking tray, mark a cross in the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes.
- When it’s baked, tap the bottom it should sound hollow.
Storage tips:
- Soda bread is best on the day of baking. Store in an air tight container for 3 days. I recommend toasting if its a day or two old.
- Freezer: Slice and freeze, take slices from the freezer as you need them, defrost and toast.
- Best eaten with lots of good Irish butter!
