Name: Easy Vegan Irish Soda Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all- purpose flour; 1-1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tbsp sugar; 1/4 cup vegan butter; 3/4 cup raisins; 1 tsp fennel seeds; 1 vegan egg replacer*; 2/3 cup non-dairy yogurt (vegan, plain unsweetened); 2 tbsp non-dairy milk (almond, oat, soy - your choice)

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

A loaf of vegan Irish Soda Bread on a wood cutting board with a slice of bread with butter.

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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A loaf of fresh baked vegan Irish soda bread on a wood cutting board and a gingham towel

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.

A variety of vegan Irish dishes on a wood table, including scalloped potatoes and cabbage, Irish soda bread and sliced tofu roast.

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
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup vegan butter
3/4 cup raisins
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 egg – equivalent with vegan egg replacer
2/3 cup vegan plain unsweetened yogurt
2 tbsp vegan milk – rice, almond, oat, soy – your choice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375º

In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
Using a pastry cutter or large fork, cut in the vegan butter until the flour mixture has a coarse, mealy texture.
Add raisins and fennel seeds. Stir to combine.
In a measuring cup, mix together egg replacer and yogurt.
Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly.
Gently knead dough to form a ball.
Place into buttered pan or dutch oven.
Use knife to cut an x-shaped criss-cross across the top and partially down the sides of the dough.
Brush the top of dough ball with non-dairy milk.
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.
Carefully remove loaf from pan and allow to cool on a rack for 10 – 15 minutes before serving.

This 2 qt. enameled cast iron dutch oven is ideal for baking a perfect loaf of Irish soda bread

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!

easy vegan irish soda bread on a cutting board with butter

very vegan ☘️ very good