This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This gluten free Irish Soda Bread recipe takes everything you love about traditional Irish soda bread and makes it gluten free! This sturdy loaf is studded with raisins, light and airy from buttermilk, and wonderful smeared with butter.
Why You’ll Love This Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: Irish
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Nut-free
- Skill Level: Moderate
Irish soda bread is a classic recipe for a good reason – it’s simple yet so flavorful and comes together in less time than you need to bake a yeasted bread. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- Gluten Free version of a favorite. If you love Irish soda bread and have been missing it since you went gluten free, you’ll love this recipe. It takes everything you remember about the traditional Irish recipe and transforms it into a gluten free bread.
- Easy. I love making bread and I love making bread that doesn’t call for yeast! This Irish soda bread recipe relies on baking powder and baking soda so you don’t need to budget time for proofing the yeast and letting the dough rise.
- Perfect for holidays and beyond. This soda bread is a natural choice for a Saint Patrick’s Day meal, but you can serve it all year round. See my variation suggestions lower down for ways to adjust it depending on the occasion.
Soda Bread Ingredients
Simple ingredients make up the bulk of this Irish soda bread recipe. I’ve outlined them below. Don’t forget to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Gluten Free Flour: Use 1:1 gluten free flour, I prefer Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour for this recipe.
- Granulated sugar
- Leavening agents: Baking powder and baking soda combine to bring lightness to the bread.
- Salt
- Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter, and keep it cold until I add it to the dough.
- Raisins – You can use regular or golden raisins.
- Buttermilk – Use whole-fat or low-fat buttermilk.
- Egg
Variations
- Omit the raisins. I love adding raisins to my gluten free Irish soda bread, but some recipes leave them out. If you wish, you can skip the raisins for a more savory bake.
- Substitute the dried fruit. Try craisins, dried cranberries, currants, or another small dried fruit.
- Add citrus zest. Alternatively, if you wish to add more flavors, go ahead! Modern versions of Irish soda bread can include lemon or orange zest in addition to the raisins.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread
I think you’ll find that this recipe is easily made by even the most novice bakers! Follow along with my method below to guide you through the process. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Prepare. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a cast iron pan with parchment paper.
- Whisk. Combine the dry ingredients.
- Add butter. Cut in the cubed butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Add raisins. Now stir in the raisins.
- Combine. Whisk the buttermilk and egg together.
- Make dough. Pour the mixture into the dough mixture and stir to combine.
- Form. Gently form the dough into a loose ball.
- Knead. Using your hands, knead the dough a few times.
- Form and score. Shape the dough into a round, transfer to the prepared pan, and score the surface.
- Bake. Now bake the bread for 65-75 minutes, until golden.
- Serve. You may serve the Irish soda bread warm or at room temperature.
Tips for the Best Irish Soda Bread
A simple bread recipe is great to have in your baking arsenal when you need a quick side dish.
Here are a few suggestions for making gluten free Irish soda bread:
- Use fresh baking soda. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to use a fresh leavening agent in bread recipes so that they rise as much as possible. Check the expiration date on your cartons of baking soda and baking powder and if they’re expired or near to the date, discard them and pick up a new box of each.
- Keep the butter cold. Keep your butter in the fridge until the moment you use it. Cold butter is ideal in many baked goods because it melts in the hot oven, creating steam that adds air to the bread and results in a lighter and more airy crumb.
- Check for browning. As noted in the recipe instructions, because the bread is cooked at a fairly high temperature, the top can be prone to over-browning. If it looks like it’s getting a bit too brown, add a “tent” of foil to the top until the bread is fully baked.
- Test with a thermometer. If you’re unsure if the soda bread is completely baked, the best way to check is with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center. The bread will be done when it reaches an internal temperature of 200°F.
How to Store Leftover Irish Soda Bread
Save your leftover gluten free Irish soda bread for another time with these easy methods:
- Counter – Wrap leftover bread tightly in plastic and place it in an airtight container. Store it on the counter for up to 3 days.
- Freezer – You can freeze the whole loaf by wrapping it in plastic and then a layer of foil, or cut slices and place them in a freezer-safe bag with a piece of parchment paper in between each slice. Store the bread in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge before serving.
What to Serve with Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is wonderful served warm with a little softened, salted butter spread over each slice. Or, add it to a classic Irish meal like Shepherd’s Pie or Corned Beef and Cabbage. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve it:
- Stew. Irish soda bread was made for a steaming bowl of stew! Soak up the extra gravy in my Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe with slices of bread.
- Chili. It;s perfect with chili too! Try my beef chili, slow cooker chili, White Turkey Chili, or Instant Pot White Chicken Chili recipes with toasted slices of bread.
- Soup. Make a pot of homey Chicken Orzo Soup and dip in slices of Irish soda bread. Or make a pot of Cream of Potato Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, or Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup.
- With Salad. Add a slice or two to a plate of crisp salad. My Roasted Asparagus Salad or Mixed Green Salad with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Seeds are nice choices.
- Roast. Make a hearty Bottom Round Roast as your main course, and add a loaf to the center to the table. Or serve bread with Rosemary Balsamic Roast Chicken.
Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread
This gluten free Irish Soda Bread recipe takes everything you love about traditional Irish soda bread and makes it gluten free! This sturdy loaf is studded with raisins, light and airy from buttermilk, and wonderful smeared with butter.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups gluten free 1-to-1 flour (555 grams) recommended: Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter , cold and cubed
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg , at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Thoroughly grease or line a 9-inch round baking pan or cast iron skillet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk or sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the cubed butter and, using a pastry blender or fork, cut it in until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs. Stir in the raisins.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg. Form a well in the middle of the four mixture and pour in the buttermilk mixture. Use a wooden spoon to mix until it forms a shaggy dough. Gently bring the dough together into a loose ball.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until it just comes together. Form into an 8-inch round and transfer to the prepared pan. Use a very sharp knife to cut a large X about 1⁄2-inch deep into the dough.
- Bake at 400°F for 65-75 minutes, until golden and hollow-sounding when tapped on the bottom. A cake tester should come out clean and the internal temperature will be about 200°F. Check it after 45 minutes, and if it is getting too dark, lightly tent it with aluminum foil.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely. Can be served warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread
Amount Per Serving
Calories 268
Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 29mg10%
Sodium 327mg14%
Potassium 248mg7%
Carbohydrates 48g16%
Fiber 5g20%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 215IU4%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 115mg12%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
