Name: Herby Irish Soda Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 1 Loaf
Ingredients: 1¼ cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup packed whole wheat flour; ⅓ cup rolled whole oats, plus 1 tablespoon for topping; 1 tablespoon each pumpkin & sunflower seeds; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; ¾ teaspoon sugar; ¾ cup kefir; 2 teaspoons honey; 1 teaspoon apple cider or white wine vinegar; 1½ tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cubed small; 1 tablespoon each finely chopped dill & chives

Sides

Herby Irish Soda Bread

Author: Mary DiSomma

A good Irish soda bread (with whole wheat flour, in this case) should have a thick, crunchy crust and a soft, dense crumb. The flavor should be ever-so-slightly tangy. In my herby Irish soda bread recipe, I use a combination of white and whole wheat flour. The white flour gives you that tender crumb, while the whole wheat adds depth, flavor, and extra nutritional value. This time, we’re swapping the classic buttermilk for kefir. Traditional Irish soda bread recipes come from Ireland, of course, and were originally made with just four ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. No need to stress about yeast because soda breads don’t have any!

Ingredient Tips

Kefir is a cultured milk product, similar to drinkable yogurt. It’s thicker and tangier than buttermilk and packed with natural probiotics. In traditional Irish soda bread, the acid from buttermilk reacts with baking soda to help the bread rise. Kefir does the same job in this version but yields a bread with a bit more flavor than buttermilk would.

Kefir is easy to find. It’s located in the refrigerated dairy section of most grocery stores. The yogurt is probably close by. There are usually multiple varieties to choose from, and many of them are flavored and sweetened. Plain, unsweetened kefir works best for this Irish soda bread recipe.

Preparation + Preservation Tips

Scoring a cross on top of soda bread helps the loaf bake evenly, but according to Irish folklore, scoring the bread has another purpose: to let the fairies out and ward off evil spirits. I love old stories like this—the perfect blend of practicality and charm. It’s one of the things that makes Irish food so special if you ask me.

Sometimes in a recipe, you’ll see the phrase “mix until just combined.” What does that mean? Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are barely incorporated. You might have the urge to keep mixing, kneading, or folding your ingredients together until the dough or batter is smooth. Resist the urge. The more you handle the dough, the more gluten develops. In this recipe, too much gluten development will result in a tough, dense loaf.

You’ll bake this bread at a high temperature to achieve its signature crust. The best Irish soda bread will have a crispy golden crust and a tender interior. If you want an extra-crisp exterior, you can even try baking it in a cast-iron skillet.

Yes! Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. You can keep this in the freezer for up to two months. Make sure to slice the loaf before freezing if you’d like to make toast straight from the freezer.

It toasts beautifully. In fact, a day or two later, it may be even better as toast. The edges crisp up while the center stays tender. It’s one of my favorite easy Irish recipes to enjoy the next morning.

Good salted butter, for one. Irish butter is especially delicious! I talk more about that in my recipe for mushy peas. It’s also lovely with Irish blue cheese and onion chutney. You can serve it with soups, stews, or as a dinner side. I mean—it’s bread! You already know how you like it!

Herby Mushy Peas➝

Extra Tips

White Irish soda bread uses refined white flour and produces a lighter crumb. Brown soda bread—also called Irish brown bread—uses whole wheat flour (sometimes called wheaten bread flour in Irish recipes). Bread made with whole wheat flour has a nuttier flavor and heartier texture.

This Irish soda bread with whole wheat flour gives you the best of both worlds—the tenderness of white flour and the depth of flavor whole wheat brings to the table.

Whole wheat adds fiber and nutrients compared to plain white flour loaves. Kefir also contributes probiotics. This isn’t exactly health food, but it is a more nourishing take on Irish soda bread recipes, traditional or otherwise.

If you liked this recipe, here are a few more of my favorites inspired by my Irish travels. You’ll feel like you’re on a trip to Ireland, right in your own kitchen. Enjoy!

Mary’s Cast-Iron Irish Soda Bread➝

Mary’s Classic Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Lamb➝

Colcannon Potatoes➝

Irish Whiskey Bangers and Mash➝

Herby Mushy Peas➝

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Twice-Baked Potato➝