This vegan Irish soda bread is an easy yeast-free bread recipe made with only 5 simple ingredients and ready in 30 minutes.
Are traditional Irish soda breads vegan?
No, unfortunately a traditional Irish soda bread is made with dairy, often including buttermilk, butter and sometimes eggs. So Irish soda breads are not vegan but here I am showing you how to make a vegan version of the Irish soda bread in less than 30 minutes.
How to make vegan Irish soda bread?
First, you need to make vegan buttermilk. This is the key ingredient to create a moist bread texture. Let me show you how to make vegan buttermilk in 10 minutes. You need:
- An acidic ingredient – it can be apple cider vinegar, vinegar or lemon juice.
- A full-fat plant-based milk – soy milk gives the best texture but oat milk and almond milk would work too.
Then, all you need is flour of your choice, I recommend a combo of white flour and white whole-wheat flour for an earthy flavor. Finally, baking soda, which acts as a raising agent to make this yeast-free bread raise as regular artisan bread.
How to shape your Irish bread dough?
You must flatten your dough ball into a thin round disc – no more than 3cm high. If the dough is too thick the bread won’t raise simply because baking soda doesn’t have the same raising power as yeast. Also, make sure you cut a deep 1 cm (0.3 inches) cross on top of the bread. This is the key of a perfect irish soda bread.
What to eat with Irish bread?
You can serve this bread with vegan butter as a side to soup or make delicious avocado toast. It’s a delicious bread, plain or toasted that can also be used for sweet jam toasts or sandwiches.
More yeast-free bread recipes
You can also try my gluten-free vegan bread recipes:
Made this vegan bread recipe and want to share a picture with me? Join me on instagram!
Your friend, Carine
Vegan Irish soda bread
Ingredients
- 3 cup All purpose white flour - or spelt
- 3/4 cup Wholegrain rolled oats - - or whole spelt or more all purpose white flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt - - optional, can be made salt free
Vegan buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar - or lemon juice or any vinegar
- 1 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Soy milk - or oat milk or almond milk
To knead the bread
- 4-6 tablespoons All purpose white flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220°C (430°F). Line a baking tray with a lightly grease piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk soy milk with apple cider vinegar. Set aside 10 minutes until it thickens to a buttermilk-like consistency.
- In another large mixing bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda and salt if desired.
- Make a well in the center and pour the vegan buttermilk.
- Stir the dough with a spatula at first then, when it becomes difficult to work the dough with the spatula, use your hands to knead the dough, adding more flour if needed to form a ball.
- Knead the dough for 1 or 2 minutes maximum, until you are able to make a ball. If the dough is very sticky, simply add more white flour (up to a maximum of 1/3 cup) but be careful, you don't want a dry dough or the Irish bread will be very dense and dry. A stickier dough results in a moist, elastic bread and that's what you want.
- Transfer the dough ball onto the prepared baking tray and flatten the dough into a thin disc of maximum 3 cm (1.5 inches) in height. This is extremely important or the bread won't raise at all.
- Cut a deep cross (1 cm deep, 0.4 inches) on top of the bread and sprinkle/pat some extra white flour on top of the bread.
- Bake at 220°C (430°F), middle rack, for 20-30 minutes or until the outside is crusty.
- Transfer to a cooling rack for 1 hour before slicing.
- Store the bread at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, wrapped into a clean towel to keep its moisture.
- Can be eaten plain or toasted with jam or mashed avocado. Or it can be served as a quick side to soup and salads.
Notes
Nutrition
simple easy recipe. Turned out perfect so happy and thankful to you Carine. I have used banana bread recipe too which is my favourite. Looking forward for more vegan recipes specially easy ones !
I made this bread the other day and it is GORGEOUS!
Today I made cake with your recipe “blueberry cheesecake” and I think I found my favorite channel for exploring new recipes!
THANK YOU!
Thank you for the lovely feedback ! I am glad you are enjoying so many recipes from my blog, XOXO Carine
Can the Irish Soda Bread be made Gluten Free?
Thank you!
I am sorry but the recipe won’t work with gluten free flour, it won’t raise and be very dense. Enjoy, XOOX Carine
This recipe was fantastic!! It was my first time making any kind of bread so I didn’t have high expectations from myself….however your step by step guide and helpful tips made it Carla proof and the result was absolutely delicious! Thank You so much Carine!! My next challenge is the Apple Crisp recipe. Can’t wait!! x
I am so happy you love it! Enjoy the apple crisp too, I can’t wait to read your feedback on it! XOXO Carine