Sweet Irish Soda Bread has a golden, crunchy, sweet crust with a moist, buttermilk interior, and tangy cranberries dotted throughout. This easy quick bread recipe mixes up in minutes and has gluten free adaptations included!

Sweet Irish Soda Bread blows every other version out of the water!

Sweet Irish Soda Bread was the only Irish soda bread I ate growing up, so I assumed all versions were equally yummy. Turns out, not so much.

During college I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day the way any collegiate would – drinking lots of green beer.

But I wasn’t a complete heathen. The night had to start with proper meal at an Irish pub.

When the server placed the Irish Soda Bread on the table I happily dug in, forewarning my friends to get ready for a doughy goodness flavor explosion.

I immediately spit it out, swearing to my friends I would make them”real” Irish soda bread so they could experience what bread heaven tastes like.

Turns out the recipe I grew up on wasn’t exactly from the old country. You see, the recipe I grew up on uses a smidgen more sugar than traditional recipes.

Hence, why we counted down the days to the St. Patrick’s meal growing up. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on two of my mom’s most anticipated recipes –Sweet Irish Soda Bread dotted with raisins or dried cranberries and her Apple Brown Sugar Corned Beef and Cabbage.

What is Irish Soda Bread? 

Irish soda bread typically has a hard crust with a tangy, moist interior. It’s considered a quick bread because baking soda is used to leaven the bread instead of yeast.

Soured milk or buttermilk is used to activate the baking soda.

The region of Ireland determines the shape of the bread. Irish Soda Bread can be a round loaf, triangular shapes, or flattened discs.

Why is there a cross on Irish Soda Bread?

Traditionally a cross was slashed on the top of the bread to ward off the devil and protect the household from bad spirits.

However, since Sweet Irish Soda Bread contains an ample amount of baking powder, the slash also helps the bread to rise rapidly without cracking. 

How to Make Irish Soda Bread Gluten Free

Lucky for all you gluten free peeps, very easily!

Traditional Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread, meaning no yeast or rest is needed for it to rise. These types of breads work wonderfully when substituting gluten free flour.

I always make this Sweet Irish Soda Bread recipe using regular all-purpose flour for my family and an additional loaf using my favorite gluten free flour for me. 

See below for other bread recipes that can be easily adapted using gluten free flour. ⬇️

Does Irish Soda Bread Freeze Well? 

Luckily for me and my pants, it does because Sweet Irish Soda Bread is extremely hard to ignore. 

Once the bread has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and transfer to a freezer bag. 

Alternatively, cool Sweet Irish Soda Bread completely, slice, and then transfer to a freezer bag. This allows you to grab and thaw slices as needed. 

What to Serve with Sweet Irish Soda Bread

The most perfect accompaniment is Corned Beef and Cabbage, of course!

Check out game changing Slow Cooker (or Instant Pot) Corned Beef and Cabbage) flavored with apple, brown sugar, and whole grain mustard.

Other MamaGourmand Favorite Bread Recipes

• Blueberry Zucchini Bread
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bread
• Bacon Maple Cornbread
• Fluffy Gluten Free Biscuits

How to Make Sweet Irish Soda Bread

1. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Make a well in the middle.
3. Whisk together liquid ingredients – melted butter, buttermilk, and egg.
4. Pour into well and mix together. 
5. Add dried cranberries (or raisins) and mix until no flour pockets remain.
6. Place in butter cast iron pan or round cake pan and bake for 1 hour.

Substitute for Buttermilk – Make Soured Milk at Home 

Baked goods use buttermilk to give a creamy, tangy taste. Also, according to Fine Cooking, buttermilk adds acidity, which keeps bake goods moist and tender by breaking down gluten.

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, save yourself a trip to the store. It can easily be made at home in five minutes!

1. Pour 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup.
2. Add milk until you have 1 1/3 cup total liquid.
3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, stir, and then use.

SAVE THIS Sweet Irish Soda Bread TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!

And let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always sharing great recipes!

Sweet Irish Soda Bread

Sweet Irish Soda Bread has a golden, crunchy, sweet crust with a moist, buttermilk interior, and tangy cranberries dotted throughout. This easy quick bread recipe mixes up in minutes!

3.9 from 50 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Melissa Erdelac

Ingredients

• 4 cups all purpose flour or gluten free flour, (my preferred gluten free flour is Cup 4 Cup brand)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1 1/3 cup buttermilk*
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries**

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350º. Grease a cast iron skillet or 9" cake pan with butter.
  
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
  
• In a small bowl whisk together butter, buttermilk, and egg.
  
• Add the liquid ingredients to the dry, pouring it into the well and stir to form a soft dough. Add the cranberries and mix until no flour pockets remain.
  
• Shape dough into a ball (TIP: use lightly wet fingers if dough is sticky) and transfer to the prepared pan. Use a sharp knife to make an "X" on top of the the ball.
  
• Bake until set, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Insert a knife or toothpick in the middle to make sure it's set in the middle. Baking times can be longer, depend on the size of pan you bake it in and if using gluten free flour, which takes longer. 

❉DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? DON'T FORGET TO GIVE IT A STAR RATING AND COMMENT BELOW!❉ 

Tried this recipe?Mention @mamagourmand or tag #mamagourmand!

Notes

*Substitute for Buttermilk 

If you don't have buttermilk on hand, save yourself a trip to the store. It can easily be made at home in five minutes!

1. Pour 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup.
2. Add milk until you have 1 1/3 cup total liquid.
3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, stir, and then use.

 

**You can also sub in dried cherries or raisins for the cranberries.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 231mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 220IU | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1.6mg

Did you make this recipe? Tag @mamagourmand on Instagram and hashtag #mamagourmand. I love to see your creations!

OTHER RECIPES TO LOVE:

[wpupg-grid id=”related-posts-bread”]

This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you – which helps justify to my family all the time I spend on the computer. Read full Privacy Policy here.