I love bread. From quick bread to yeast bread and this soda bread recipe is awesome. It is a perfect quick bread that can be made in under an hour.
Soda bread has been made for decades it uses baking soda and baking powder to make the dough rise when baked. It is a great alternative to traditional yeast bread. They do turn out different, it is more dense than yeast bread, but still delicious. It is super is to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!
Step 1: Ingredients
In order to make soda bread you need just a few ingredients.
- All-Purpose/Plain flour
- Sugar – The sugar will add a bit of sweetness and can be reduced if desired. More can be added as well, depending on taste.
- Salt – The salt will balance out the flavors and enhance the flavor.
- Baking soda – The baking soda will aid in leavening and will react with the vinegar. Creating a nice tender texture and it will neutralize the acid.
- Baking powder – The baking powder will cause most of the leavening.
- Water – I always use filtered water when baking. My tap water tastes horrible.
- Vinegar – Apple cider or white distilled vinegar will work. Traditionally buttermilk is used, but I wanted to provide a dairy-free option.
Step 2: How to make soda bread
First preheat the oven to 400 F/205 C. In a medium bowl add the flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Next, use a whisk and mix all those ingredients together well.
Step 3: Liquids
In a large bowl mix together the water and the vinegar. I typically will use apple cider vinegar but white distilled vinegar will work as well. If you do have buttermilk handy and would like to use it, you certainly can. In that case, you won’t need the water or the vinegar.
Step 4: Make the soda bread dough
Now add the flour mixture about a third at a time to the liquid. Use a whisk to mix it in for the first third, then switch to a wooden spoon or sturdy silicone spoon for the remaining. Leave about 1/4 cup of the flour mixture leftover.
Once the dough comes together in the bowl pour it out onto a work surface. Knead the dough for 2 to 3 minutes and add the extra flour mixture as needed to keep the dough from sticking. You may not use all of it. I typically have a couple tablespoons leftover.
Step 4: Baking that yummy bread
Shape the soda bread dough into a disc that is roughly 1 1/2 inches tall. Place it onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Then cut an X on the top or cut a # symbol. Scouring or slitting the top of the bread will help it to expand when it bakes and also controls where it expands.
In Ireland, the scouring on the top was meant to symbolize the cross and giving thanks.
Place the bread in the oven and allow it to bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the top browns and gets hard. You can check it for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer in the center. If it comes out clean it is ready. In my oven 35 minutes is perfect. A nice crust will form on the top.
Step 5: Server up a slice of that soda bread
Allow the bread to cool for 10 to 15 minutes and then you can slice into it and serve it. I like to add butter and honey or jam to my soda bread. Meat and cheeses are also a favorite of mine to eat with it. Enjoy!
How long does soda bread last?
Store it wrapped in plastic wrap or in a ziplock bag for 4 to 5 days in the fridge. You can also freeze it and it will last for a few months.
Soda Bread
Equipment
- Bowl
- Spoon/spatula
- Baking sheet with parchment paper
- Knife
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose/plain flour 500g
- 3 tbsp. white granulated sugar 37.5
- 1 tsp. salt 4g
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2g
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder 2g
- 1 1/2 cup water I used filtered (354ml)
- 2 tsp. of apple cider or white distilled vinegar 10ml
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F/205 C. Place rack in middle position.
- In a medium bowl mix together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, with a whisk.
- In a large bowl combine the water and the vinegar. Then add the flour a third at a time. Use the whisk for the first third then switch to something sturdy like a wooden spoon. Save about 1/4 cup of the flour mixture.
- Once to dough comes together in the bowl, pour it out onto a work surface and knead it for 2 to 3 minutes. Add more of the dry mixture as it gets sticky.
- Shape the dough into a disc that is about 1 1/2 inches high. Then cut an X or # shape onto the top of it. Bake the bread for 30 to 40 minutes until a nice hard crust forms on the top and a tooth pick or wooden skewer comes out clean when poked in the center.
- Allow the soda bread to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing into it and serving it. Spread butter, honey, jam, etc. Or serve it with meat and cheeses. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like this recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
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Mine turned out like a brick
Hey Stephen! Double-check to make sure you didn’t put in too much flour. Also, keep in mind soda bread is much denser than traditional white bread. Are you using metric or American standard cup measurements?
I have a question, let’s say I put a cup of sugar and 1 1/2 baking powder how would the recipe change?
It cause I was making something but accidentally added the wrong thing and now I’m looking a recipe that has the same dry mix.
Do you mean 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder? That should be okay. That is a lot of sugar for this recipe, over 4 times as much. So yes it will change, if you baked it as is with all the rest of the ingredients the same, it would be a much sweeter bread. But other than that it will probably be okay.