This Vegan Irish Soda Bread is an easy homemade bread recipe that any level of home baker can tackle. Not only is it delicious slathered in vegan butter and served with vegan Irish stew, but it’s really easy to make using pantry staples, vegan buttermilk, and no yeast. The finished result is always crusty, flavorful, and rustic! I know you’re going to love this easy vegan soda bread because it’s:
A foolproof yeast-free recipe.Made from really simple ingredients.Ready in just 1 hour.Flavorful, tender, and moist.Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or year-round!
The hearty slices are a must when you’re serving soups and stews in the winter. Dunk ‘em in a big bowl of classic vegan stew or this comforting lentil chili. You can’t go wrong!
What is Irish soda bread?
Irish soda bread is an artisan-style quick bread that uses baking soda as the main leavening agent instead of yeast. The traditional recipe relies on the chemical reaction between buttermilk and baking soda to create little pockets of air throughout the bread, giving it lift and a spongy texture. Vegan soda bread recipes replace the real buttermilk with homemade vegan buttermilk made from vinegar and dairy free milk.
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
Soy milk – I prefer using soy milk, but oat milk or almond milk are my other go-to’s. Apple cider vinegar – Mixing vinegar with dairy free milk will give you a tangy and tasty vegan buttermilk substitute. It gives rise to quick breads, pancakes, biscuits, and more. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, use white vinegar or lemon juice instead.All purpose flour – This will give the bread the best texture. A 1:1 mix of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour should also work.Vegan butterSugar – Granulated sugar will help the other flavors pop. Another granulated sugar (like coconut sugar) should work in its place, although the flavor could be slightly affected.SaltBaking soda – The baking soda will react with the vegan buttermilk, giving the soda bread plenty of rise.Raisins – These are optional but give the bread added texture and a bit of sweetness.
How to make vegan Irish soda bread
Start by mixing the soy milk and apple cider vinegar together in a small bowl to make the vegan buttermilk. Set it aside to curdle while you work on the dough: Use a serrated knife to score the bread before baking until golden brown. Let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Serving suggestions
A few hearty slices of vegan Irish soda bread are the perfect match for soups and stews and other sauce-heavy dishes. If you’re not serving the bread with Irish stew, dip the slices in a “meaty” bowl of spaghetti, use them to soak up the last few drops of curry sauce, or enjoy them with your favorite vegan chili instead. The leftover slices can be used for toast with butter or jam, or for sandwich bread.
Frequently asked questions
Want more yeast-free quick bread recipes?
Best Vegan Banana BreadThe Best Vegan Pumpkin BreadLemon Blueberry BreadVegan Cornbread
