This Irish Soda Bread Without Raisins is a quick bread made with baking soda and baking powder rather than yeast, and it omits raisins or currants. It is dense, moist, and buttery, and I have served it every year on St. Patrick’s Day for close to 20 years.
It is great on its own or with a little butter or jam spread on each slice.
When I serve this Irish Soda Bread on St. Patrick’s Day, the most common reaction I get is, “Oh this is so moist and good! This is the first Irish Soda Bread that I’ve had that isn’t dry.”
I designed this recipe to be dense, buttery, moist, and flavorful. I also don’t care for raisins in Irish Soda Bread, so I have omitted the raisins as well.
This Soda Bread is really easy to put together. Just mix a few ingredients in a bowl. Shape it into a round ball, and bake on a baking sheet. It's ready in about 40 minutes, start to finish.
🛒 Ingredients
Below are the ingredients needed to make Irish Soda Bread Without Raisins.
- Flour: Use all-purpose, unbleached flour. Use a kitchen scale to weigh the flour if possible.
- Baking powder and Baking Powder: The leavening agents for this recipe.
- Salt: Brings out and enhances flavor.
- Sugar: A small amount for a subtle sweetness.
- Butter: Softened and added to the dough, and a small amount melted to brush the top of the loaf.
- Egg: Use one large egg, pasture-raised if possible.
- Buttermilk: Contributes to the signature taste of soda bread and aids in leavening, reacting with the baking soda.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
📝 How to Make Irish Soda Bread Without Raisins
Below are the step-by-step instructions and photos for how to make Irish Soda Bread Without Raisins.
*Note: The recipe card with instructions, ingredient list, and quantities is included further below these step-by-step photos.
Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 1. Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Add the softened butter, egg, and buttermilk, and combine.
Step 2. Shape the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a well floured counter or work surface. Add as little additional flour as possible and shape the dough into a round ball. You do not need to knead the dough. Gently pat the dough into a round ball shape.
Transfer the dough to a baking sheet. Brush with the melted butter. Then score an "X" on top of the bread.
Tip: It is important to not add too much flour. This relatively wet and tacky dough is what enables the bread to be moist and not dry when baked.
Step 3. Bake: Bake at 350°F for 28-33 minutes. The bread should be golden brown on the top and look set in the middle.
Tip: You can insert a toothpick in the center to see if it comes out clean. However, keep in mind that this bread forms a crust on the outside, and sometimes that crust wipes the toothpick clean when you remove it from the bread. A clean toothpick does not necessarily mean that it has fully baked.
🍽️ Serving Tips
- Serve warm on its own, with a little butter, or spread with a little jam.
- Serve this bread alongside the full St. Patrick's Day Dinner: Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, and Carrots.
- This bread can also be made as a loaf with this Soda Bread Loaf recipe.
💖 For More Recipes You May Love:
If you've tried this Irish Soda Bread Without Raisins Recipe or any other recipe on my site, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
Irish Soda Bread Without Raisins
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 315 grams
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 tbsps butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Add the butter, egg, and buttermilk, and combine until roughly the shape of a ball.
- Turn out onto a well-floured counter and, adding as little additional flour as possible, shape it into a round ball and place it onto a baking sheet.
- Brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with a little bit of sugar. Granulated sugar is fine, or a little sanding sugar if you have it.
- Score the top creating an X with a sharp knife.
- Bake for 28-33 minutes or until the top of the bread is golden brown and firm, and a toothpick in the middle comes out clean.
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