Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread


This authentic-tasting gluten free Irish soda bread, made with baking soda and buttermilk, & no yeast. A basic Irish-American bread!

This gluten free Irish soda bread is a frivolously candy fast bread that tastes finest slathered with some further Irish butter. Have fun St. Patrick’s Day, or any day, the best way you keep in mind.

What makes this frivolously candy gluten free Irish soda bread so particular?
I first developed this recipe a few years in the past when my gluten free son, who’s now significantly taller than I’m (and I am not brief) was within the early years of grammar college. They had been “celebrating” St. Patrick’s Day by sharing Irish soda bread.
Since he was already gluten free, and necessity is the mom of invention, I developed this recipe. I have been making it ever since—and when my son is feeling beneficiant, he’ll keep in mind the grammar college instances to me.
Irish Soda Bread is a fast bread, not a yeast bread (though frankly I feel it could make a superb yeast bread). And it is not your typical fast bread. First off, it is not baked in a loaf pan like most fast breads. In truth, the Irish tradition started within the 1830’s when baking soda was first launched.
So there’s that. However the best way I am going about issues, it is also made extra like a pastry. Meaning chilly elements, chunks of butter, and a light-weight contact when dealing with.
All that results in a light-weight, tender and virtually flaky pastry-like bread. But it surely slices completely, both in wedges or extra conventional slices.
Typically I make it with fewer raisins, typically with extra. I truthfully cannot determine which I like higher. I do know that it is simply not the beginning of spring with out some Irish Soda Bread.

Does gluten free Irish soda bread must have raisins?
This recipe requires a minimum of 1 1/2 cups (or as a lot as 2 cups) raisins. I like Thompson raisins, however golden raisins such as you see within the photographs and video listed below are beautiful, too.
You do not have to make Irish soda bread with raisins, however you’d want a substitute right here. The recipe is developed to incorporate a mix-in.
We even have a recipe for savory gluten free Irish soda bread, which does not actually have a single raisin. The savory recipe is extra like conventional bread, although it is also leavened with out yeast.

Tricks to making the right gluten free Irish soda bread
There are some things to bear in mind when following this recipe for gf Irish soda bread:
Take the scale of the baking pan under consideration
This can be a giant loaf. The recipe requires a full 4 cups (560 g) of all objective gluten free flour.
The smaller the pan you bake it in, the longer you may have to bake it. If you happen to bake it in a 10-inch pan or skillet, it ought to bake utterly in 40 minutes.
In case your pan or skillet is 9-inches, 45 minutes ought to do the trick. If you happen to go even smaller, like an 8-inch baking pan, you may have to regulate the baking time and temperature.
For an 8-inch pan, bake for half-hour at 375°F. Scale back the oven temperature to 350°F, cowl the loaf pan with foil to stop burning, and bake for about one other half-hour or till the highest does not give noticeably if you press the middle.
To make a a lot smaller loaf, you may break up each ingredient within the recipe in half. Bake in a 6-inch pan for about half-hour.
Ensure that your elements are chilly
You make a fast bread, but it surely’s made extra like a pastry. Remember to use chilly elements which can be dealt with frivolously, and also you should not have hassle making a profitable loaf.
Choose your gluten free flour mix rigorously
Follow Higher Batter basic mix gluten free flour, like I used, or attempt Cup4Cup, which is an all objective gluten free flour mix that’s finest for pastries because it’s gentle and ethereal. If you cannot purchase both one, you may at all times make my mock blends. Simply observe the hyperlink within the recipe card.

Gluten free Irish Soda Bread: Substances and substitutions
Tips on how to make gluten free dairy free Irish soda bread
The butter and buttermilk on this recipe are each dairy. You possibly can attempt changing the chilly, chopped butter with Soften model or Miyoko’s Kitchen model vegan butter.
Spectrum model non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening would in all probability additionally work. Simply watch out about chilling it an excessive amount of, because it turns into very arduous when very chilly, not like butter.
Rather than buttermilk, should you can have dairy, use half plain dairy yogurt and half complete milk, by quantity. If you cannot have dairy, use half plain nondairy yogurt and half unsweetened nondairy milk (I like almond milk finest).
Tips on how to make gluten free egg free Irish soda bread
There are two eggs on this recipe. You would possibly have the ability to substitute every with a “chia egg” (1 tablespoon floor white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, combined and allowed to gel).
As an alternative, you may attempt our recipe for savory gluten free Irish soda bread. That recipe does not name for eggs in any respect.
Are you able to make this gluten free Irish soda bread recipe with out sugar?
This can be a candy Irish soda bread recipe. It has 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and is developed to make use of sugar.
Sugar is not solely a sweetener. It additionally provides bulk and tenderizes the bread. You might be able to scale back the sugar a bit, to 1/2 cup (100 grams), however I can not promise outcomes.
For a savory model that solely has a little bit of sugar, that is even optionally available, please click on the hyperlink above for the savory gf soda bread recipe.

FAQs
Why is there a cross reduce into gf Irish soda bread?
The sensible cause that we slice a deep cross into our uncooked gluten free Irish soda bread dough is to let warmth escape throughout baking, enable the bread to bake totally all the best way within the middle of this massive loaf, and to stop the bread from splitting haphazardly. Additionally, the cross was initially thought to let the devil out of your Irish soda bread!
Does Irish soda bread comprise gluten?
Sure! Until Irish soda bread is made to be gluten free, it’s made with wheat flour, which incorporates gluten. It is not fit for human consumption standard Irish soda bread on a gluten free food regimen—however you may eat this Irish soda bread as a result of it is made to be gluten free!
Is Irish soda bread wholesome to eat?
If you happen to’re on a yeast-free gluten free food regimen, however you continue to wish to take pleasure in some crusty bread, this gluten free Irish soda bread recipe is a good alternative. It’s made with some sugar and with butter, so I am undecided if it is actually “well being” meals!
Does Dealer Joe’s have gluten free Irish soda bread?
No, the Irish soda bread that’s bought at Dealer Joe’s round St. Patrick’s Day is made with wheat flour, so it isn’t gluten free.
Are you able to make gluten free Irish soda bread with out buttermilk?
Sure! You possibly can substitute the 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk on this recipe with:
- 3/4 cup cow’s milk and three/4 cup plain yogurt;
- 1 1/2 cups plain complete milk kefir; or
- 3/4 cup cow’s milk and three/4 cup bitter cream
Don’t attempt to substitute buttermilk by including a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to exploit. The end result can be a barely bitter, skinny milk that has an excessive amount of moisture and never the right texture.
Tips on how to make basic gluten free Irish soda bread, step-by-step
Basic Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread | Frivolously Candy
This authentic-tasting gluten free Irish soda bread, made with baking soda and buttermilk, & no yeast. A basic Irish-American bread!
Yield: 1 10-inch loaf
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Substances
- 4 cups (560 g) all objective gluten free flour mix (I used Higher Batter), plus extra for sprinkling
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum omit in case your mix already incorporates it
- 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter roughly chopped and chilled
- 1 ½ cups (225 ) raisins plus 1/2 cup extra as desired
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs 100 g, weighed out of shell
- 1 ½ cups (12 fluid ounces) buttermilk chilled (plus extra as obligatory)
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch spherical baking pan or a 10-inch forged iron skillet, and set it apart.
-
In a big bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cream of tartar, and granulated sugar, and whisk to mix effectively.
-
Add the chopped and chilled butter, and toss to coat the butter within the dry elements. Between your well-floured thumb and forefinger, flatten every chunk of butter and return it to the dry elements.
-
Add the raisins (roughly, to style), and toss to coat the raisins within the dry elements.
-
Place 1 1/2 cups of the chilled buttermilk in a big measuring cup or bowl with a pour spout, add the eggs, and whisk to mix effectively.
-
Create a effectively within the middle of the dry elements, add the buttermilk and egg combination and blend gently to mix. The dough ought to come collectively.
-
With clear palms, knead the dough gently. If there are any spots which can be dry and crumbly, add extra buttermilk sparingly by the tablespoon as essential to convey the dough collectively.
-
Flip the dough out onto a frivolously floured floor and sprinkle frivolously with extra flour. Pat the dough right into a spherical that’s roughly 9-inches in diameter, piling it larger towards the middle and sprinkling frivolously with extra flour as obligatory to stop sticking.
-
Place the dough within the ready baking pan and, with a really sharp knife, slice a big “X” on the highest about 1-inch deep (every slash needs to be about 6-inches lengthy). If the dough appears to have warmed throughout dealing with, place the pan within the freezer to sit back for 10 minutes or till the butter is as soon as once more agency.
-
Place the baking pan within the middle of the preheated oven and bake till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear and the bread is agency to the contact (about 45 minutes, relying on dimension).
-
Take away from the oven and permit to chill within the baking pan for 10 minutes earlier than turning out onto a wire rack to chill additional.
-
Slice and serve heat, with butter. Additionally it is glorious the subsequent day, toasted.
Notes
Initially printed on the weblog in 2015. In 2021, some photographs, video, and a few textual content new; in 2023, new textual content assets added.
Basic Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread | Frivolously Candy
This authentic-tasting gluten free Irish soda bread, made with baking soda and buttermilk, & no yeast. A basic Irish-American bread!
Yield: 1 10-inch loaf
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Substances
- 4 cups (560 g) all objective gluten free flour mix (I used Higher Batter), plus extra for sprinkling
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum omit in case your mix already incorporates it
- 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter roughly chopped and chilled
- 1 ½ cups (225 ) raisins plus 1/2 cup extra as desired
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs 100 g, weighed out of shell
- 1 ½ cups (12 fluid ounces) buttermilk chilled (plus extra as obligatory)
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch spherical baking pan or a 10-inch forged iron skillet, and set it apart.
-
In a big bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cream of tartar, and granulated sugar, and whisk to mix effectively.
-
Add the chopped and chilled butter, and toss to coat the butter within the dry elements. Between your well-floured thumb and forefinger, flatten every chunk of butter and return it to the dry elements.
-
Add the raisins (roughly, to style), and toss to coat the raisins within the dry elements.
-
Place 1 1/2 cups of the chilled buttermilk in a big measuring cup or bowl with a pour spout, add the eggs, and whisk to mix effectively.
-
Create a effectively within the middle of the dry elements, add the buttermilk and egg combination and blend gently to mix. The dough ought to come collectively.
-
With clear palms, knead the dough gently. If there are any spots which can be dry and crumbly, add extra buttermilk sparingly by the tablespoon as essential to convey the dough collectively.
-
Flip the dough out onto a frivolously floured floor and sprinkle frivolously with extra flour. Pat the dough right into a spherical that’s roughly 9-inches in diameter, piling it larger towards the middle and sprinkling frivolously with extra flour as obligatory to stop sticking.
-
Place the dough within the ready baking pan and, with a really sharp knife, slice a big “X” on the highest about 1-inch deep (every slash needs to be about 6-inches lengthy). If the dough appears to have warmed throughout dealing with, place the pan within the freezer to sit back for 10 minutes or till the butter is as soon as once more agency.
-
Place the baking pan within the middle of the preheated oven and bake till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear and the bread is agency to the contact (about 45 minutes, relying on dimension).
-
Take away from the oven and permit to chill within the baking pan for 10 minutes earlier than turning out onto a wire rack to chill additional.
-
Slice and serve heat, with butter. Additionally it is glorious the subsequent day, toasted.
Notes
Initially printed on the weblog in 2015. In 2021, some photographs, video, and a few textual content new; in 2023, new textual content assets added.