This is an easy Irish Soda Bread Without Buttermilk recipe comes together with just a handful of basic ingredients. You can have a nice crusty loaf ready in about an hour.
This easy Soda Bread recipe comes together in a few minutes, it is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. This is also a fun bread to make for a St. Patrick's Day Dinner.
Traditional soda bread is made with real buttermilk, but this buttermilk free soda bread is honestly very tasty. Milk and lemon make a great buttermilk substitute.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Easy Recipe. This is a quick bread is one of the easiest bread recipes to make. This hearty homemade bread is made with simple ingredients you likely have on hand already.
Seasonally Festive. This traditional Irish bread is a great addition to your St. Patrick's Day meal.
Versatile. This recipe is very versatile. You can add raisins or currants or seeds.
Homemade bread is so delicious. If you love this recipe, definitely try my Pumpkin Bread with Streusel my Starbucks Copycat Pumpkin Bread or my Carrot Bread. All are absolutely delicious!
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Ingredient List
- all purpose flour
- butter
- white sugar
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- milk - I use regular milk for this recipe. If you decide that you want to use buttermilk, you can and just omit the lemon juice.
- lemon juice
- egg
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread Without Buttermilk
Step 1 - Mix lemon juice into milk. Set aside.
Step 2- Combine flour mixture with butter and sugar.
Step 3 - Pour milk mixture into flour mixture.
Step 4- Turn sticky dough ball onto floured baking tray or cutting board. Place dough on prepared baking sheet. Form into a round loaf. Make an X on top of the bread
Step 5 - Bake as directed. Cool on wire rack.
Substitutions & Variations
- Whole wheat soda bread - This recipe makes a white soda bread but you can use a 50/50 blend of whole wheat flour and white flour
- vinegar - If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- Seeds - Sunflower seeds aor Caraway seeds may be added to the dough when mixing.
Storage
Store the bread in an airtight container,
Timesaving Tips and Helpful Hints
- When baked, tap the bottom of the loaf - it will sound hollow when done. A thermometer inserted into the center should reach 195°F
- Brush the top of the dough with heavy cream before baking for a richer flavor and golden brown crust.
- Irish soda bread dough should be shaggy and slightly sticky. Over-mixing will develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough and dense loaf.
- Enjoy fresh: Irish soda bread is best enjoyed warm and slathered with butter. However, it can also be enjoyed the next day.
- Store in an airtight container.
More Easy Bread Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Irish Soda Bread Without Buttermilk
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- pastry cutter
- Baking Sheet
- sharp serrated knife
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees f.
- In a small bowl, combine milk with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Set aside for 8-10 minutes so that milk can curdle.
- In a large mixing bowl,add flour, butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk flour mixture together to combine.
- Add milk mixture and egg to dry ingredients using a pastry cutter until blended.
- Move dough to a lightly floured surface and form dough into a loaf. Dough will be a little sticky.
- Form into a round loaf.
- Cut a deep cross on top of the loaf with a sharp knife before baking. This allows steam to escape and helps the bread rise evenly.
- Bake as directed 40-45 minutes.
Notes
- When baked, tap the bottom of the loaf - it will sound hollow when done. A thermometer inserted into the center should reach 195°F
- Brush the top of the dough with heavy cream before baking for a richer flavor and golden brown crust.
- Irish soda bread dough should be shaggy and slightly sticky. Over mixing will develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough and dense loaf.
- Irish soda bread is best enjoyed warm and slathered with butter. However, it can also be enjoyed the next day.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
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angie
Thank you for sharing your recipe this sounds delicious perfect for st. pats day. Love the manner in which you wrote it as well. Thanks for sharing come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Esme Slabbert
Delicious-looking bread. It's my weak point but LC now so no bread for me.
Thanks so much for participating and sharing at SSPS 298.
Linda Primmer
Looks great and so perfect for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day. I am pleased to feature your Irish Soda Bread at Love Your Creativity.