The Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe with Raisins

This Irish Soda Bread recipe with raisins has been a St. Patrick's Day staple in my family for years. Learn how to make this easy soda bread recipe for yourself, and you'll fall in love after one bite.

Why do they call it Irish Soda Bread?

Ahhh the history of Irish Soda Bread... this quick bread recipe was first introduced into Ireland in the 1830's when baking soda was first brought to the country. Technically, the American Indians were the first to develop any sort of soda bread recipe. They used pearl ash, which is a natural form of soda created from ashes of wood. Through food necessities, Irish Soda Bread came to life. It served as a recipe using inexpensive ingredients and getting the most "bang for your buck" type of recipe.

So, Soda Bread, in general, is a "quick bread." Instead of using yeast in your bread recipe, and setting aside time to rise, proof, etc. soda bread uses baking soda, or "bread soda," as they call it in Ireland, along with buttermilk to create carbon dioxide bubbles, and allow the bread to rise, without any yeast. Baking is truly a science.

This is seriously the BEST Irish Soda Bread recipe.

This recipe reminds me so much of my childhood. My mom has been making this simple Irish Soda bread recipe for years. Luckily, this batch of soda bread makes three loaves, so with one bowl, you get three loaves. Making it a perfect recipe to spread the Irish cheer during the month of March. From my family to family friends and now social media followers, they can attest that this is by far the best soda bread recipe.

With this no yeast bread recipe, you truly have next to no room for error. You don't even have to worry about mixing separate ingredients and combining. You literally just have to whisk everything together in a bowl, fold in the raisins and then divide into three greased bread loaf pans.

This isn't your average soda bread, this such a moist irish soda bread recipe with raisins.

Normally, Irish Soda Bread recipes can be dry and super crumbly, almost like a scone. However, this is the most moist Irish Soda Bread recipe. When I say this isn't your average Irish Soda Bread recipe, I mean it! I couldn't even tell you what makes it different than any other sod bread recipe, but I can tell you that once you try this one, you won't want to make any other.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread recipe ingredients

This recipe does call for an entire quart of buttermilk and I haven't tried making Irish Soda Bread without buttermilk. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

This soda bread recipe does call for buttermilk, and I haven't made any other recipe experimenting with yogurt or any other substitutes. So, I can't say whether or not this Irish soda bread recipe can be made with yogurt. However, I will say, this does use an entire container of buttermilk, so it's convenient to not have any leftover ingredients that you might not use on a daily basis.

• All-Purpose Flour - I haven't experimented with a gluten-free Irish Soda Bread or an Almond Flour Irish Soda Bread, so I can't say if you can substitute all-purpose flour for those two.
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Sugar
• Melted Butter
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Raisins

How to make this quick bread recipe

Since you don't need to use yeast, this is such an easy Irish Soda Bread recipe. You can mix everything together in one bowl... who doesn't love a one-bowl bread recipe? This recipe makes three loaves of bread, so be prepared to have a lot of soda bread on your hands.

• Pre-heat your oven to 375°F and grease 3 bread pans
• In a large bowl whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
• Add in your eggs, butter and buttermilk. mix well.
• Fold in your raisins.
• Evenly distribute among your three bread pans. bake for 1 hour.
• Let cool for about an hour, and enjoy!

Common Questions

What is the easiest way to store extra loaves? Can you freeze Irish Soda Bread?

You absolutely can! It freezes pretty well, too. To save your Irish Soda Bread for later, just wrap the whole loaf tightly in tin foil, and then place it in a freezer-safe gallon-sized bag. Make sure all the air is out, and then freeze for later.

Can you make this a gluten-free Irish Soda Bread?

I've never experimented with making this a gluten-free soda bread, however, My Gluten-Free Kitchen has a popular recipe.

Can you make Irish Soda Bread without buttermilk?

I can't say I've ever tried to make Irish Soda Bread without buttermilk, but Recipe for Perfection has a recipe that looks worthy enough to try!

Want more St. Patrick's Day recipes?

• Espresso Martini with Bailey's
• Reuben Breakfast Sandwich
• St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Guide
• Best St. Patrick's Day Recipes

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