Irish Soda Bread

Name: Irish Soda Bread
Total time: 1 h 26 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 250 g wholemeal flour; 250 g Plain flour; 1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda; 1 tsp Salt; 400 ml Buttermilk

1 hr 18 min · 5 min 5s active · makes ~910 g · Easy

Irish soda bread made with wholemeal and plain flour, leavened with bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk for a dense, slightly tangy crumb.

See more →

Irish Soda Bread

Irish soda bread made with wholemeal and plain flour, leavened with bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk for a dense, slightly tangy crumb.

See more →

TOTAL TIME

1 hr 18 min

ACTIVE TIME

5 min 5s

QUANTITY

~910 g

DIFFICULTY

Easy

CUISINE

—

Who’s eating

People here are for suitability — allergies, preferences and what to watch for. Portion sizing is off for this recipe.

Portions & fullness

Ingredients0/5

Tools0/10

Ingredients

0/5 gathered · 8 servings

250g

1tsp

400ml

#	Quantity	Notes	State
1	250g	—	—
2	250g	—	—
3	1tsp	—	—
4	1tsp	—	—
5	400ml	—	—

Tools

10 items

Serveware

1 item

Procedure

15 steps

1 of 15

Turn the oven to 220 °C (200 °C fan).

220°C

⏱ 15 min

2 of 15

Line the baking tray with baking paper.

⏱ 30s

3 of 15

Tip the wholemeal flour into the large mixing bowl.

Wholemeal flour · 250 g

⏱ 10s

ResultWholemeal flour

4 of 15

Add the plain flour.

Plain flour · 250 g

⏱ 10s

ResultWholemeal flour and plain flour

5 of 15

Add the bicarbonate of soda.

Bicarbonate of soda · 1 tsp

⏱ 5s

ResultWholemeal flour and plain flour and bicarbonate of soda

6 of 15

Add the salt and whisk to combine.

Salt · 1 tsp

⏱ 20s

ResultSoda bread dry mix

7 of 15

Pour in the buttermilk and mix quickly with your hand in broad sweeps, just until a rough dough comes together; do not overwork it.

Buttermilk · 400 ml

⏱ 1 min

ResultShaggy soda bread dough

8 of 15

Turn the dough out onto the lined tray.

Shaggy soda bread dough · step 7

⏱ 15s

ResultShaggy soda bread dough

9 of 15

Pat it gently into a rough round about 18 cm across and 5 cm thick.

⏱ 40s

ResultSoda bread round

10 of 15

Cut a cross about 2 cm deep in the top, leaving the loaf joined at the base.

⏱ 15s

ResultScored soda bread

11 of 15

Using oven gloves, put the baking tray in the oven.

⏱ 10s

ResultScored soda bread

12 of 15

Bake for about 40 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when you tap the base.

220°C

⏱ 40 min

ResultBaked soda bread

13 of 15

Using oven gloves, take the baking tray out.

⏱ 10s

ResultBaked soda bread

14 of 15

Using oven gloves, lift the loaf onto the wire rack.

Baked soda bread · step 13

⏱ 20s

ResultBaked soda bread

15 of 15

Leave to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.

⏱ 30 min

ResultCooled soda bread

Total Time1 hr 18 min

#	Product	Tool	Action
1	—	220°C	Turn the oven to 220 °C (200 °C fan).⏱ 15 min
2	—		Line the baking tray with baking paper.⏱ 30s
3	250 g		Tip the wholemeal flour into the large mixing bowl.⏱ 10sResultWholemeal flour
4	250 g		Add the plain flour.⏱ 10sResultWholemeal flour and plain flour
5	1 tsp		Add the bicarbonate of soda.⏱ 5sResultWholemeal flour and plain flour and bicarbonate of soda
6	1 tsp		Add the salt and whisk to combine.⏱ 20sResultSoda bread dry mix
7	400 ml		Pour in the buttermilk and mix quickly with your hand in broad sweeps, just until a rough dough comes together; do not overwork it.⏱ 1 minResultShaggy soda bread dough
8	Shaggy soda bread doughstep 7		Turn the dough out onto the lined tray.⏱ 15sResultShaggy soda bread dough
9	—		Pat it gently into a rough round about 18 cm across and 5 cm thick.⏱ 40sResultSoda bread round
10	—		Cut a cross about 2 cm deep in the top, leaving the loaf joined at the base.⏱ 15sResultScored soda bread
11	—		Using oven gloves, put the baking tray in the oven.⏱ 10sResultScored soda bread
12	—	220°C	Bake for about 40 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when you tap the base.⏱ 40 minResultBaked soda bread
13	—		Using oven gloves, take the baking tray out.⏱ 10sResultBaked soda bread
14	Baked soda breadstep 13		Using oven gloves, lift the loaf onto the wire rack.⏱ 20sResultBaked soda bread
15	—		Leave to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.⏱ 30 minResultCooled soda bread
Total Time			1 hr 18 min

Serving

A batch eaten a portion at a time — about 8 portions. Serve what is wanted now and keep the rest.

Put it on the serving board, break it into quarters along the cross and slice with the bread knife.

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated · pre-cooking · 80% ingredients covered

Nutrient	Per serving
	240kcal
	9g
	2g
	0.4g
	49g
	3g
	4g
	345mg

Ingredients0/5

Tools0/10

Recipe

Irish Soda Bread

Irish soda bread made with wholemeal and plain flour, leavened with bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk for a dense, slightly tangy crumb.

What you’ll doYou will whisk together wholemeal and plain flours with bicarbonate of soda and salt, then quickly mix in buttermilk to form a rough dough. Shape it gently into a round, cut a deep cross into the top, and bake at 220 °C for 40 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding. Cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Serves8

Total1 hr 18 min

LevelEasy

Ingredients

Wholemeal flour250 g
Plain flour250 g
Bicarbonate of soda1 tsp
Salt1 tsp
Buttermilk400 ml

Tools

Serving boardLarge mixing bowlBread knifeOvenChef's knifeWire rackWhiskBaking trayBaking paperOven glove

Method

Turn the oven to 220 °C (200 °C fan).

220°C15 minOven

Line the baking tray with baking paper.

30sBaking tray, Baking paper

Tip the wholemeal flour into the large mixing bowl.

10sLarge mixing bowlWholemeal flour · 250 g

Add the plain flour.

10sLarge mixing bowlPlain flour · 250 g

Add the bicarbonate of soda.

5sLarge mixing bowlBicarbonate of soda · 1 tsp

Add the salt and whisk to combine.

20sLarge mixing bowl, WhiskSalt · 1 tsp

Pour in the buttermilk and mix quickly with your hand in broad sweeps, just until a rough dough comes together; do not overwork it.

1 minLarge mixing bowlButtermilk · 400 ml

Turn the dough out onto the lined tray.

15sBaking trayShaggy soda bread dough · step 7

Pat it gently into a rough round about 18 cm across and 5 cm thick.

40sBaking tray

Cut a cross about 2 cm deep in the top, leaving the loaf joined at the base.

15sBaking tray, Chefs knife

Using oven gloves, put the baking tray in the oven.

10sBaking tray, Oven, Oven glove

Bake for about 40 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when you tap the base.

220°C40 minBaking tray

Using oven gloves, take the baking tray out.

10sBaking tray, Oven, Oven glove

Using oven gloves, lift the loaf onto the wire rack.

20sWire rack, Oven gloveBaked soda bread · step 13

Leave to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.

30 minWire rack

Put it on the serving board, break it into quarters along the cross and slice with the bread knife.

Result · Cooled soda bread

1 minServing board, Bread knife

Printed 6 October 2026