Easy Vegan Irish Soda Bread

Easy Vegan Irish Soda Bread ☘️ A simply delicious vegan recipe for a traditional Irish soda bread made without buttermilk or eggs. GF option.

There’s good reason Irish Soda Bread has been a popular part of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations for generations – it’s absolutely scrumptious!

What is Irish Soda Bread?

Soda bread originated in Ireland a couple hundred years ago, not long after bicarbonate of soda was first introduced to the U.K., providing a way to make bread or “quick bread” using inexpensive ingredients. Today, quick breads continue to be a popular way to create easy and delicious leavened breads without yeast.

If you’re not familiar with Irish Soda Bread, it’s a lightly sweet quick bread similar in texture to scones and shortcake. The crust is tender & slightly crispy and the bread itself is soft and dense, but not crumbly. The sweetness of the bread is created from the addition of a teaspoon of sugar plus raisins or currants and a small amount of fennel seeds, which add a lovely subtle anise or licorice flavor.

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Why we love this recipe

• It’s so simple to make!
• Doesn’t require yeast or rising/proofing time
• Ready in about an hour
• No buttermilk, dairy or eggs
• It’s soft, moist and chewy – not crumbly or dry
• Not too sweet – just enough
• It’s versatile – you can add or change some ingredients if you like
• Perfect to serve on Saint Patrick’s Day or any day
• Stays fresh up to 3 days or can be frozen
• It’s positively delicious!

What to serve with Irish Soda Bread

Vegan Irish soda bread is the perfect partner with many Irish or savory meals, much like garlic bread is with with pasta, sourdough with soups and stews, biscuits with vegan sausages or dinner rolls are with Thanksgiving dinner. This vegan version of a classic Irish quick bread is exactly what you want when re-creating the flavors and textures of a traditional Irish meal. Enjoy a slice with a dab of butter along with potatoes and cabbage – like our delicious Easy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes or Orange Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

How to Make Vegan Irish Soda Bread

This quick & easy plant-based recipe uses just a few basic ingredients, including plain (unsweetened) vegan yogurt instead of buttermilk. The yogurt helps makes the bread dense, soft and moist. We used an almond-based yogurt. Here is all you need to prepare this yummy recipe:

Equipment

• A large mixing bowl
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Pastry cutter
• A long spoon or spatula for stirring/mixing
• Pointed sharp knife
• Pastry brush
• 2 quart deep baking dish, oven proof pot or dutch oven

Ingredients

• 2 cups all- purpose flour
• 1-½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ cup vegan butter
• ¾ cup raisins
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 egg – equivalent with vegan egg replacer
• ⅔ cup vegan plain unsweetened yogurt
• 2 tablespoon vegan milk – rice, almond, oat, soy – your choice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375º

1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
2. Using a pastry cutter or large fork, cut in the vegan butter until the flour mixture has a coarse, mealy texture.
3. Add raisins and fennel seeds. Stir to combine.
4. In a measuring cup, mix together egg replacer and yogurt.
5. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly.
6. Gently knead dough to form a ball.
7. Place into buttered pan or dutch oven.
8. Use knife to cut an x-shaped criss-cross across the top and partially down the sides of the dough.
9. Brush the top of dough ball with non-dairy milk.
10. Place in pre-heated 375º oven for 35-40 minutes. Begin checking at 30 minutes. Remove from oven when the top of the loaf is golden brown.
11. Carefully remove loaf from pan and allow to cool on a rack for 10 – 15 minutes before serving.

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Variations

One of the great things about Irish Soda Bread is you can add other ingredients you might enjoy, such as:

• Currants, chopped dates, sultana/golden raisins, cranberries, apricots
• Lemon or orange zest
• Caraway, anise or pumpkin seeds

How to make Irish soda bread gluten-free

To prepare this recipe without wheat gluten, choose a 1-1 gluten-free flour. You can also make your own all-purpose gluten-free flour using this recipe I found from Better Homes and Gardens. Be sure to check the labels of the other ingredients you use to ensure they are all gluten-free.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll love these!

• Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
• Easy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
• Orange Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
• Vegan Veggie Rainbow Wraps
• 5-Star Vegan Mushroom Seitan Wellington

very vegan ☘️ very good