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    Home » Baking

    Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    Published: Mar 7, 2022 · by Audrey

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    gluten-free Irish soda bread Pinterest pin 1n

    An easy recipe for Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread. This easy gluten-free quick bread is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! 

    gluten-free Irish soda bread sliced on a cutting board with a blue kitchen towel

    Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    This gluten-free Irish soda bread is just like the traditional Irish soda bread. It is a quick bread that does not require yeast but uses baking soda and buttermilk to rise the dough.

    It has a golden-brown crust with a dense, tight crumb. The bread is not heavy, but it is soft inside.

    The texture of the gluten-free Irish soda bread is similar to my Gluten-Free Biscuits or Gluten-Free Scones. My kids said that it actually tastes like a giant biscuit.

    This gluten-free Irish soda bread dough comes together easily. The recipe also has a dairy-free and vegan option.

    You can see just how easy this gluten-free bread is to make in the recipe steps photos and the recipe video.

    gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe ingredients photo collage

    Ingredients In Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this easy gluten-free Irish soda bread. I bet you already have the ingredients already in your pantry.

    1. Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour with Xanthan Gum: Using a gluten-free flour blend made with rice flour, starches, and xanthan gum mimic the taste and texture of traditional all-purpose flour. I bake with Pillsbury gluten-free flour.
    2. Granulated Sugar: Not only does sugar sweeten the soda bread a little, but it helps it to be soft and moist.
    3. Baking Powder & Baking Soda: The baking powder and baking soda are what help this gluten-free Irish soda bread to rise.
    4. Salt: Salt adds flavor to the quick bread.
    5. Butter: Butter not only adds flavor and moisture but also necessary fats. The little bits of cold butter melt and make steam that helps puff and lift the dough. This recipe also works well with dairy-free butter.
    6. Raisins: Traditional Irish soda bread recipes use currants. Currants can be hard to find, so I substitute raisins or even dried cranberries.
    7. Milk: Milk not only adds flavor but also protein and moisture to the bread. It is important for a soft crumb and golden crust. This recipe also works well with dairy-free milk.
    8. White Vinegar: It is used to make homemade buttermilk. Soda bread needs an acidic liquid to activate the baking soda and help the bread rise up and have the correct texture.
    9. Egg: The whisked egg adds moisture, flavor, and protein. Gluten-free bread dough with an egg also helps it rise better.

    How To Make Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    The full recipe ingredients are at the bottom of the page in the recipe card. 

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
    • In a large measuring cup, add the white vinegar to the milk and stir to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes in the refrigerator to stay cold. (This makes homemade buttermilk.)
    • In a large bowl, mix together the gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. (photo 1)
    • Add the cold butter and cut it into the gluten-free flour mixture with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers until it resembles small peas. (photo 2)
    • Stir in the raisins. If you are not a fan of dried fruit, you can leave it out. (photo 3)
    • Whisk the egg and homemade buttermilk (milk and vinegar mixture) together.
    • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the egg and buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture. (photo 4)

    gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe steps 1-4 photo collage

    • Using a large spoon, mix the gluten-free flour mixture and milk mixture together to form a shaggy dough. The dough will be soft but not too sticky. Do not over-mix the dough, or you will end up with tough bread. (photo 5)
    • Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of gluten-free flour onto parchment paper. Turn the dough onto the parchment paper and gently bring the dough together into a round about 8-inches by 8-inches. If the dough is sticking to your hands, lightly wet your hands with water. (photo 6)
    • Gently fold the dough over on itself 2 times. You do this by folding the dough in half on top of itself and then doing it a second time. Form the dough back into an 8-inch by 8-inch round. (photo 7)
    • Place the round dough onto a greased baking cast iron skillet, baking sheet, or baking pan.
    • Using a knife score the bread with a deep cross on top. Do not skip this step because it helps the middle of the bread bake through. (photo 8)
    • Bake for 15 minutes at 425°F, then turn down the oven to 400°F and bake for 30 minutes more. When done, the loaf will be golden brown and sound slightly hollow when tapped on the bottom.
    • Allow the loaf to cool for a few minutes, and then place it on a wire rack to cool.

    gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe steps 5-8 photo collage

    Tips for Making the Best Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    • Do not over-mix the dough. It should be a “shaggy” dough. Overmixing can make for tough bread.
    • If the dough is sticking to your hands, lightly wett your hands with water to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
    • Don’t skip the step of scoring the top of the dough with an “X” before baking. This helps the center bake all the way through.
    • I bake my gluten-free Irish soda bread in a cast-iron skillet because it makes for the best crispy crust. You can also use a baking sheet or baking pan.
    • To ensure the crust is crispy, do not open the oven door during baking.
    • You can use an egg or milk wash on the bread before you bake it for a shiny and more golden crust.
    • I like to brush the top of the bread with melted butter after it is done baking.

    Gluten-Free Flour

    This gluten-free Irish soda bread was made with Pillsbury gluten-free flour. It is a cup-for-cup all-purpose gluten-free rice flour blend and already has the xanthan gum and starches in it.

    Most gluten-free all-purpose flour blends have starches and xanthan gum already in them. The xanthan gum helps replace the elasticity and texture of gluten.

    So make sure to check the ingredients of your gluten-free flour as not to add any extra xanthan gum to your flour if it already includes it. If you do, you will get gummy bread!

    My favorite gluten-free flour is Pillsbury gluten-free. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.

    This gluten-free soda bread recipe with not work with almond, oat, or coconut flour.

    gluten-free Irish soda bread in a cast iron skillet

    Tip For Measuring Gluten-Free Flour

    It is super important to use a measuring cup made for dry ingredients (not a pyrex liquid measuring cup) to measure gluten-free flour. I measure the gluten-free flour with the “spoon & level” method.

    I use a large spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup. Then I use the back of a knife to level off the top of the measuring cup.

    Please do not scoop the flour directly out of the bag with your measuring cup. If you do, you could end up with more flour than is called for in the recipe.

    Ingredient Substitutions for Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    I have also test-baked this gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe with several ingredient substitutions. These substitutions are for dairy-free and vegan options.

    For Dairy-Free:

    • For the milk, you can substitute it with unsweetened almond milk.
    • For the butter, you can use dairy-free or vegan butter. I like Smart Balance buttery spread.

    For the White Vinegar:

    • You can substitute it with lemon juice.

    For Egg-Free:

    • You can substitute Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free egg replacer.

    gluten-free Irish soda bread sliced on a cutting board with a blue napkin

    Easy Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    You only need one bowl, a fork, and a large spoon to make this gluten-free Irish soda bread. In less than one hour, you can enjoy this gluten-free soda bread. This simple gluten-free bread is an easy recipe to make for St. Patrick’s Day!

    Mama Knows Gluten Free e-book photo collage

    More Gluten-Free Bread Recipes To Try!

    • Easy Gluten-Free Bread {Dairy-Free}
    • Gluten-Free Sweet Cornbread {Dairy-Free Option}
    • Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls {Dairy-Free Option}

    Let’s Connect! You can FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, or Instagram!

    ★Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

    gluten-free Irish soda bread on a wooden cutting board with a blue napkin
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    5 from 3 votes

    Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

    An easy recipe for Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread. This easy gluten-free quick bread recipe is perfect for St. Patrick's Day! The recipe also has a dairy-free and vegan option.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Irish
    Keyword Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread, Gluten-Free Soda Bread
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 317kcal
    Author Audrey from Mama Knows Gluten Free

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and chopped For dairy-free use Smart Balance butter.
    • 1 cup raisins, currants, or dried cranberries You can also leave it out.
    • 1 ¾ cups milk For dairy-free use unsweetened almond milk.
    • 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar You can substitute lemon juice for white vinegar.
    • 1 large egg For egg-free use Bob's Red Mill gluten-free egg replacer.
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
    • In a large measuring cup, add the white vinegar to the milk and stir to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes in the refrigerator to stay cold. (homemade buttermilk)
    • In a large bowl, mix together the gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    • Add the cold butter and cut it into the gluten-free flour mixture with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers until it resembles small peas.
    • Stir in the raisins. If you are not a fan of dried fruit, you can leave it out.
    • Whisk the egg and homemade buttermilk (milk and vinegar mixture) together.
    • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the egg and buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture.
    • Using a large spoon, mix the gluten-free flour mixture and milk mixture together to form a shaggy dough. The dough will be soft but not too sticky. Do not over-mix the dough, or you will end up with tough bread.
    • Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of gluten-free flour onto parchment paper. Turn the dough onto the parchment paper and gently bring the dough together into a round, about 8-inches by 8-inches. If the dough is sticking to your hands, lightly wet your hands with water.
    • Gently fold the dough over on itself 2 times. You do this by folding the dough in half on top of itself and then doing it a second time. Form the dough back into an 8-inch by 8-inch round.
    • Place the round dough onto a greased baking cast iron skillet, baking sheet, or baking pan.
    • Using a knife, score the bread with a deep cross on top. Do not skip this step because it helps the middle of the bread bake though.
    • Bake for 15 minutes at 425°F, then turn down the oven to 400°F and bake for 30 minutes more. When done, the loaf will be golden brown and sound slightly hollow when tapped on the bottom.
    • Allow the loaf to cool for a few minutes then, and then place it on a wire rack to cool.

    Video

    Notes

    • I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.
    • For dairy-free: use Smart Balance butter and unsweetened almond milk.
    • For egg-free: use Bob's Red Mill gluten-free egg replacer.
    • For a browner crust, brush the dough with an egg or a milk wash before baking. 
    • I like to brush the top of the bread with melted butter after it is done baking.
    • Mama says, "always check your labels!"

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 373mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Did you enjoy this recipe? Please give it a star rating below in the comments. Thank you!
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    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Share a recipe pic with me and mention @MamaKnowsGlutenFree and use the tag #mamaknowsglutenfree!
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    © MAMA KNOWS GLUTEN FREE. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please link back to this post for the recipe.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tiana says

      March 17, 2022 at 10:20 am

      Happy Saint Patricks Day! This recipe is amazing! My family loved it, Thank You!

      Reply
    2. Carolyn Bruna says

      March 16, 2022 at 4:52 pm

      Just made this Irish Soda Bread for St Pat’s Day tomorrow. Of course, had to taste it today. My husband & I loved it. My first attempt at any bread. Wonderful. Lots of steps but easy to follow. Just the best!

      Reply
    3. Lyn Gorski says

      March 12, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      My GF All purpose baking flour does not have xantham gum; how much should I add for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Audrey says

        March 12, 2022 at 4:50 pm

        Hi Lyn! You could add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum to the 4 cups of gluten-free flour. A 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum for every 1 cup of gluten-free flour in a recipe is a good guide. That ratio might increase slightly if you are working with something that needs more elasticity like yeast recipes. Thanks for asking. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    4. Marion says

      March 10, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      Can I make this gf bread with lactose free milk?

      Reply
      • Audrey says

        March 12, 2022 at 4:42 pm

        Yes Marion you can make the bread with lactose-free milk. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    5. Barbara says

      March 10, 2022 at 8:47 am

      Can you use regular buttermilk?

      Reply
      • Audrey says

        March 12, 2022 at 4:45 pm

        Yes Barbara you can use regular buttermilk in the recipe. Just leave out the white vinegar. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    6. Rene says

      March 07, 2022 at 3:20 pm

      What size cast iron skillet?

      Reply
      • Audrey says

        March 12, 2022 at 4:56 pm

        Hi Rene! I recommend using a 9-inch or large castiron skillet. The bread loaf should be an 8-inch round. Thank you so much for asking. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    7. Cindy Crosson says

      March 07, 2022 at 9:23 am

      This recipe is the best, I’ve made it a few times and it comes out great, thx again,

      Reply

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    Audrey Roberts in a white kitchen for a profile photo

    I'm Audrey Roberts, a busy mama of four and I love sharing the recipes that I make for my family. I make gluten-free family-friendly recipes that are simple and delicious that you can too! I use easy to find ingredients that won't break your budget. You will also find dairy-free options and Paleo recipes. I am also the author of  The Everything Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Cookbook, which is an Amazon Best Selling Cookbook in the US and Internationally. Living gluten-free since 2010. I hope by me sharing my journey it may help you with yours.  Read More…

     

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