This is an amazing recipe for sweet Irish soda bread with raisins and caraway seeds. Bake delicious bread from start to finish in only 40 minutes.
I remember the first time I baked this sweet Irish soda bread with raisins and caraway seeds. I was so delighted by it; I couldn't stop talking about it for days... I think I was pretty annoying; most people don't get as enthusiastic about a good recipe as I tend to do...
The Irish soda bread is soft and not overly sweet, with those little juicy raisins and, best of all, the slight caraway flavor, which is just amazing! Please, even if you think you are not much into caraway, don't leave it out; it belongs here!
And if you are looking for more St. Patrick's Day food ideas, check out the Dutch Oven Irish Stew, our delicious Irish Potatoes and Cabbage, or make some fluffy Bailey's Muffins.
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What is soda bread?
Soda bread is a quick bread made without yeast. Instead, baking soda is used to help it rise, reacting with the buttermilk to create a soft, crumbly texture without needing kneading or rising.
The shape of soda bread can vary depending on the region. It could be a loaf, round, flattened, or even a triangle. A good sweet soda bread has a mild, slightly sweet, and biscuit-like taste.
The basic version only needs four ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. But you can find many variations, like savory ones with cheese, herbs, or garlic and sweet ones with chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit.
Try our Irish Guinness Brown Bread Recipe or the Easy Yogurt Soda Bread. Or make Green Bread with Spinach.
Recipe ingredients
Buttermilk is important because it reacts with baking soda to help the bread rise.
Oranges and dried fruit:ย I used a mixture ofย raisins and cranberries. I love the tarter cranberry taste, so I often combine them with very sweet raisins. However, cranberries are optional; you can replace them with more raisins if you wish.
Other ingredients: All-purpose flour, baking soda, sea or Kosher salt, caraway seeds, honey, and oil.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions or additions
Use sugar instead of honey; you will need 5-6 tablespoons of granulated or light brown sugar; you can add more to taste, but the loaf should only be slightly sweet.
Add nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, etc., if you like. Try other sweet loaves with nuts, Pull-Apart Yeast Bread, Romanian Cozonac Recipe, or Pumpkin Almond Flour Bread.
How to make sweet Irish soda bread
Step #1: Combine flour, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
Step #2: Add raisins, cranberries, caraway seeds, and orange zest. Mix.
Step #3: Pour mixed wet ingredients into the flour mixture.
Step #4: Mix quickly until just combined. Don't overmix.
Step #5: Knead the dough a few times to form a round loaf. Place on the baking sheet. Dust with flour. Slash a cross on top.
Step #6: Bake for about 30 minutes until deeply brown. Let cool on a wire rack
Tips
A digital kitchen scale (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab) will give you the most precise measure, ensuring the best bake possible.
Don't knead the dough too much; just push it together to give the raisin bread its rough shape.
Slash the shaped dough before putting it into the oven; the slash prevents cracking and helps the center of the bread bake through.
โRecipe FAQs
My favorite thing about this loaf is the caraway flavor; I wouldn't leave it out. It is not mandatory for the success of the baking process, but flavor-wise, it is incredible.
Use some more to make Fried Cabbage with Bacon, German Goulash, or Cheese Caraway Crackers,
If you have a cast-iron skillet, use it, it's perfect. Otherwise, a regular baking tray lined with parchment paper will work fine, too.
Add 1 ยฝ teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar to 150 ml/ 45 fl. oz/ โ cup milk. Leave to stand for 5-10 minutes and use as required. Or make a Soda Bread without Buttermilk (the link opens in a new tab).
How to store and freeze?
The sweet Irish soda bread is fluffier and softer on the day you bake it, and it gets slightly firmer and chewier during the next days. However, that is not a bad thing: it tastes just as delicious!
Room temperature: Wrapped in a clean kitchen towel, the sweet soda bread will be fine for 2-3 days.
Refrigerator: It will keep well for 5-6 days.
Freeze it for up to 3 months: Let it cool completely, wrap it in plastic wrap (cling film), place it in a freezer bag or an airtight container, and freeze it. You can also slice it, place it in freezer bags and freeze it. This way, you can only thaw a few slices if you wish.
Let thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter; it will take a few hours, less if it's already sliced.
Serving suggestions
Freshly baked sweet soda bread with a little butter and a cup of tea is more than amazing. Black tea is typical, but maybe you would like to try our Elderflower Tea or the Turmeric Golden Tea.
You can also spread some Apricot Jam, Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, honey, or nut butter on top for a super indulgent, delicious breakfast (or snack).
I've read about serving it with corned beef and cabbage. You can if you like, I won't.
More easy bread recipes
Recipe
Sweet Irish Soda Bread
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour Note 1
- pinch of salt
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons baking soda bicarbonate of soda
- ยฝ cup raisins
- ยฝ cup cranberries
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- zest 1 orange
- ยผ cup orange juice
- โ cup buttermilk Note 2
- 3 tablespoons runny honey
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil like rapeseed or sunflower
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/ 200ยฐC. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Dry ingredients: Mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Add the raisins, cranberries, caraway seeds, and orange zest.2 cups all-purpose flour+ pinch of salt + 1 ยฝ teaspoons baking soda + ยฝ cup raisins+ ยฝ cup cranberries + 1 teaspoon caraway seeds + zest 1 orange
- Wet ingredients: Mix the orange juice, buttermilk, honey, and oil in a jug and stir until the honey dissolves. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and mix quickly until just combined. Do not overmix.ยผ cup orange juice + โ cup buttermilk + 3 tablespoons runny honey + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Knead dough: Turn the rather sticky dough onto a floured surface and knead a few times to form a round loaf. Don't overwork the dough; just bring it into shape (Note 3).
- Slash soda bread: Place the dough on the prepared baking tray and lightly dust with a bit of flour. Slash a cross on top, about halfway through the bread (Note 4).
- Bake the Irish sweet soda bread for about 30 minutes until deeply brown. Let cool on a wire rack.
Notes
- Measurements: Use a digital kitchen scale (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab) to measure the ingredients when baking; it guarantees for best results.
- Make buttermilk: As buttermilk is not something you always have in the house and as you need such a small amount, you can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 ยฝ teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar to 150 ml/ 45 fl. oz/ โ cup milk.ย Leave to stand for 5-10 minutes and use as required.
- Don't knead the dough too much; it's enough to push it together to give it a rough round shape.
- The slashes prevent cracking and help the center of the bread bake through.
Vanessa says
Lovely loaf!!! Was just wondering if I could use yeast in the next one I make? And if so, would I still need the baking soda for that kinda soda taste?
Adina says
Ho Vanessa. I am happy you liked it. This recipe doesn't work with yeast. But search the blog, you will find many yeast bread recipes.
Loretta says
Can I use Gluten-free flour, instead & Can I use butter instead of sunflower oil?
Thanks looks delicious Loretta ๐๐๐
Adina says
Hi Loretta. I never use gluten free flour in anything, so I can't say if that would work. You can't replace butter with oil in baking so easily, but as there are only 2 tablespoons in this recipe, it might work.
Shirley says
I like soaking my raisins and cranberries in some libation before adding them to my recipes. I then take them out of the liquid and pat them dry and them mix with a little bit of flour before adding them to my recipe to keep them from sinking in the bottom of the batter. This recipes sounds great and I will have to get some granny smiths and try it.
Adina says
That sounds good, Shirley, I hope you like this soda bread as much as we do.