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Close up of the full soda bread for St. Patrick's Day.
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4.80 from 10 votes

Easy Irish Soda Bread Without Buttermilk

My Irish soda bread without buttermilk is a hearty homemade bread that's made with just 9 ingredients, no yeast, and is done from start to finish in just an hour!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Cooling Time5 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 507kcal
Author: Samantha Erb

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened, divided
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar plus more for sprinkling
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 ¾ cups milk divided
  • 1 large egg
  • ½-1 cup raisins optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Place ¼ cup of the butter in a small bowl and melt it in the microwave and set it aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and remaining ½ cup butter until the mixture resembles damp sand. Add in 1 ¼ cups milk, egg, and raisins (if using), stirring until combined. 
  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly, forming it into a round ball. Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Add the remaining milk to the bowl the cooled melted butter and whisk well, then brush the loaf with the mixture. Sprinkle on a bit of sugar, then use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
  • Bake it for 45-50 minutes, brushing the loaf 2-3 times with the milk mixture and sprinkling it with a bit more sugar during the baking time.
  • Allow the bread to cool for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve.

Notes

  • It's done when I can hear a hollow sound when tapping the bottom of the loaf. You can also stick a knife in the middle of the bread and when it comes out clean, it's done.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap on the counter at room temperature for a few days. It will dry out faster when cut into slices.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 623mg | Potassium: 310mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 648IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 4mg