• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
Home / Recipes
55 minutes
4.64 from 49 votes
42 Comments

Irish Soda Bread

Jump to RecipePrint RecipeJump to Video
  • 278
by: Joanna Cismaru
03.11.21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for irish soda bread.

This Irish Soda Bread recipe is a rustic, mildly sweet quick bread that doesn’t require any yeast at all. It is so easy and super quick to put together, a great crusty exterior, and keeps well for days. 

irish soda bread with chocolate chips on a cutting board with a few slices.

Since St. Patrick’s day is almost upon us, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you my favorite recipe for Irish Soda bread that’s baked in a skillet. Because I love all things made in a skillet, why not bread?

There’s nothing better than the aroma of freshly baked bread, it will make you kinder to your neighbors, it will even make your neighbors kinder to you! Just open a window and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

irish soda bread with raisins and caraway seeds in a skillet.

Irish Soda Bread, A Must Make!

I love my Irish soda bread recipe, it’s almost like a raisin bread because it’s slightly sweetened, and you can add other ingredients to it, like chocolate chip, raisins, or any seeds or nuts. I like to have this bread toasted and buttered for breakfast with a good cup of coffee in the morning. It’s perfection!

Bread making seriously doesn’t get any easier! If you’re looking for a quick loaf of bread, requiring only a few ingredients, then this bread is for you.

Ingredient Notes

ingredients needed to make irish soda bread.
  • Flour – All purpose flour works best. You can use gluten-free flour for this recipe as well.
  • Sugar – Plain granulated. This is going to add a touch of sweetness.
  • Salt – Salt is imperative when it comes to baking, don’t skip it!
  • Baking Soda & Baking Powder – These will act as our leaveners and also give us a super tender bread.
  • Raisins – Your choice! You can use other mix-ins like nuts or dried cranberries as well.
  • Mix-ins – You can add various things to this bread, like chocolate chips, raisins, caraway seeds or other seeds, and your favorite nuts.
  • Egg – I used large eggs. Eggs are actually optional in a soda bread, they add richness and density, so feel free to skip the eggs for a slightly lighter loaf.
  • Buttermilk – You can make your own buttermilk with 1 1/2 cup milk and 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar.
  • Butter – Melted! I like to use unsalted butter so I have full control over the sodium. Margarine or lard can be used instead.

How to Make Irish Soda Bread

process shots showing how to make dough for irish soda bread.
  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a skillet with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  3. Make Dough & Knead: In a smaller bowl whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine with a wooden spoon. Dust your hands with a little bit of flour and knead the dough, either in the bowl if it’s large enough, or over your floured work surface. Knead it gently just until you can form a rough ball. Do not over knead the dough.
  4. Score: Place the dough in the skillet and score the top in an X shape or a couple lines about an inch in depth, to help cook the center.
  5. Bake: Bake for 45 minutes to an hour.
process shots showing how to make irish soda bread.

FAQs & Expert Tips

FAQs

What Is Irish Soda Bread?

This is a type of quick bread which uses baking soda and baking powder to give the loaf some airiness. No need to wait for this bread to rise since there’s no yeast required at all! After a very quick knead, it’s ready to pop in the oven.

What Is The Texture of Irish Soda Bread?

Irish soda bread has a nice crust, a dense and soft interior. It’s not a heavy bread at all and keeps well for days, getting a bit chewier as the days go on.

What Else Can I Add To My Irish Soda Bread?

It really is up to you and what you like. Try adding dried cranberries, or cherries, perhaps some dried apricots. Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds would be great in this bread. The sky’s the limit!

How Do I Know When My Bread Is Done Baking?

You’re looking for a nice, light golden brown color on the crust. Carefully turn the loaf upside down, and give it a knock on the bottom. Use a clean dish towel or two to protect your hands from the heat. It should sound hollow when it’s fully cooked. You can also use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf. It’ll read 200ºF when the bread is done.

irish soda bread on a cooling rack.

Tips

  1. If your dough is too wet, add a bit more flour, a little bit at a time.
  2. The secret is to not over knead the dough! You just want to knead it until it comes all together enough to form a ball so you can place it in the skillet.
  3. Don’t have a skillet? You could use a regular baking sheet instead!
  4. With just a touch of sweetness, this bread can be enjoyed for breakfast with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea (with a splash of Irish cream, of course). 
irish soda bread with chocolate chips on a cutting board with a few slices.

Storing Soda Bread

Irish soda bread can dry out quickly, so it is best to store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to preserve it longer. You can store it like this for about 3 to 4 days.

Freezing

To avoid freezer-burn, wrap your loaf well with both plastic wrap and foil. You can pre-slice it before freezing to make thawing faster. Grab a slice or two as needed! It’ll last 3 months in the freezer.

To thaw, leave it at room temperature for an hour or two. You can also use your microwave if it has a bread defrosting function.

irish soda bread with chocolate chips on a cutting board with a few slices.

More Great Recipes To Try

  • Irish Lamb Stew
  • No Knead Skillet Bread
  • Irish Coffee
  • Rustic Fig Galette
  • Rye Bread

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

irish soda bread with chocolate chips on a cutting board with a few slices.

Irish Soda Bread

4.64 from 49 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 55 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 12
Print Pin Rate
This Irish Soda Bread recipe is a rustic, mildly sweet quick bread that doesn't require any yeast at all. It is so easy and super quick to put together, a great crusty exterior, and keeps well for days. 

Equipment

  • 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar granulated
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoon butter unsalted, melted
  • 2 large eggs
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a skillet with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Make Dough & Knead: In a smaller bowl whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine with a wooden spoon. Dust your hands with a little bit of flour and knead the dough, either in the bowl if it's large enough, or over your floured work surface. Knead it gently just until you can form a rough ball. Do not over knead the dough.
  • Score: Place the dough in the skillet and score the top in an X shape or a couple lines about an inch in depth, to help cook the center.
  • Bake: Bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Flour: If your dough is too wet, add a bit more flour, a little bit at a time. The dough should just come together into a ball. Do not over knead.
  2. Storage: Irish soda bread can dry out quickly, so it is best to store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to preserve it longer. You can store it like this for about 3 to 4 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
  3. Nutrition: Nutritional information is for 1 slice and assumes 12 slices per bread. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
  4. The secret is to not over knead the dough! You just want to knead it until it comes all together enough to form a ball so you can place it in the skillet.
  5. Don’t have a skillet? You could use a regular baking sheet instead!
  6. With just a touch of sweetness, this bread can be enjoyed for breakfast with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea (with a splash of Irish cream, of course). 
 

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 292kcal (15%)Carbohydrates: 49g (16%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 8g (12%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Trans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mg (14%)Sodium: 346mg (15%)Potassium: 200mg (6%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 20g (22%)Vitamin A: 195IU (4%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 112mg (11%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:Irish
Keyword:bread, irish soda bread
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 278

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

chicken broccoli with rice in a white bowl.
Previous Post
15 Minute Chicken Broccoli
side view shot of colcannon topped with butter in a large serving bowl
Next Post
Colcannon

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Susie murphy says

    April 23, 2022 at 6:52 am

    5 stars
    Have made this several times now, adding different bits each time, favourite so far was ginger and walnut. This recipe never fails but I do usually have to add a little more flour. What book is this recipe in?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      April 23, 2022 at 9:38 am

      This recipe is not in either of my books, I only have it here on the blog.

      Reply
  2. Guy Ravin says

    March 26, 2021 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe for that something a little different to snack on !

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      March 27, 2021 at 11:17 am

      Glad you enjoyed it, Guy.

      Reply
  3. Tamara says

    March 14, 2021 at 7:57 am

    5 stars
    Awesome! Easy to make and so easy to eat!

    Reply
  4. Martin H Jacoby says

    March 12, 2021 at 8:34 pm

    4 stars
    The bread was very good. Lighter than most soda breads that I’ve made. The dough was very wet even after I added 3 Tbs of flour plus the flour on my hands when I tried to knead it. Ended up just using a Danish whisk and thoroughly mixing. Again, maybe depending on what link is clicked you get a variant of the recipe. I clicked print on the recipe with chocolate chips and got the recipe with raisins and carroway

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      March 13, 2021 at 8:54 am

      I think the other version must have been cached somehow, because I just changed the recipe a bit.

      Reply
  5. Gerry Wolkowski says

    March 12, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    We in the West Indian community of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have passed this Irish Soda Bread recipe down from one family to another ….and as many West Indian families have made it a wonderful breakfast break…but with different ingredients and it has held as ours a West Indian Sunday come back from Church Bread with Tea. It has been said”We are more so,holy because of Sunday Bread.” Politicians must have this on Sunday.

    Reply
  6. Edward Tippelt says

    March 12, 2021 at 7:37 am

    Irish soda bread recipe question: baking powder and baking soda are both sodium bicarbonate. So why use two essentially identical products instead of just one?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      March 12, 2021 at 10:50 am

      The baking powder here does most of the leavening and the baking soda is added to neutralize the acids and add tenderness to the bread.

      Reply
  7. yvonne says

    January 23, 2021 at 10:13 pm

    I always use currants not raisins but will try this version. Love Irish Soda Bread no matter what is in it!!! Thanks for your recipes.
    Yovnne

    Reply
  8. Fergus O’Reilly says

    September 19, 2020 at 12:43 am

    Leave out the caraway seeds and baking powder and use buttermilk. This bread is eaten at tea time (early evening) in Ireland and yes Lott’s of butter! If can bake it over a fire you will be rewarded!

    Reply
    • Tom Roselle says

      March 12, 2021 at 7:34 am

      What size skillet do you use? Cast iron? Thanks

      Reply
      • Joanna Cismaru says

        March 12, 2021 at 10:48 am

        Anything from a 10 1/2 to 12 inch skillet should be fine.

    • Lynne says

      March 12, 2021 at 9:11 am

      If you wanted to use raisins , would you use the same amount as chocolate chips ?

      Reply
      • Joanna Cismaru says

        March 12, 2021 at 10:50 am

        Yes, I added a cup of raisins.

Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…
cover for the big book of jo's quick and easy meals.

My Cookbook

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Favorites

black pepper chicken on a bed of rice on a black plate.

Black Pepper Chicken

a slice of pastitsio on a black plate.

Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

side view shot of a piece of eggplant parmesan with marinara sauce in a white plate garnished with parsley and a piece cut out and held by a fork

Eggplant Parmesan

side view shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

Chicken Souvlaki

yakisoba noodles with chicken and vegetables in a large serving platter.

Yakisoba

pouring lemon sauce over fried chicken.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

a chicken gyro wrapped in paper and topped with lots of tzatziki sauce with another gyro in the background

Chicken Gyros

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

Air Fryer Recipes

a roasted chicken on a serving platter along some roasted root veggies.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

apple pie bombs on a white plate with the top one cut in half.

Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

3 cooked chicken breasts on a cutting board.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

air fried chicken drumsticks in a basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

cooked chicken thighs in the basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

eggs inside an air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

lobster tails on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Lobster Tails

hands pulling apart a mozzarella stick with the rest in the background

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

freshly made bread in air fryer on a cutting board cut into slices.

Air Fryer No Knead Bread

bacon wrapped water chestnuts on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
chow mein in a white asian bowl.

Asian

creamy chicken marsala pasta in a white platter.

Italian

chicken fajita taquitos with sour cream and salsa on a white platter.

Mexican

chicken and mushroom in creamy dill sauce over a bed of rice in a blue bowl.

Romanian

freshly made lamb korma in a beige braiser.

Indian

freshly made hummus drizzled with olive oil and garnished with tomatoes cucumbers and olives.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

roast chicken with roast potatoes on a roaster.

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
lifehack logo.
buzzfeed logo.
mashable logo.
woman's day logo.
health logo.
better homes & gardens logo.
delish logo.
healthline logo.
nbc news logo.
blogloving logo.
university of washington logo.
shape logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2022 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!