Easy Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread

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Traditional Irish soda bread made with wheat flour requires a very light touch to avoid developing the gluten, which would make the bread tough. However, this dough, which is made with gluten-free flour, should be beaten thoroughly. A stand mixer is perfect for the job.

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Prep Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
50 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
12
Yield:
12 servings

Nutrition Notes

Is gluten-free soda bread good for you?

This recipe provides a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. One slice provides about 10% of your daily fiber needs. And fiber has lots of benefits, including reducing your risk of diseases, like heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. It also helps keep you full and satisfied.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

Why do we have soda bread on St. Patrick's Day?

This popular bread of Ireland dates back to the 1830s, during a time of hardship, and people were using what was on hand. Most households found it much less expensive to use baking soda for leavening bread than with yeast. Also, baking soda worked well with the soft wheat flour predominantly grown in Ireland.

Can soda bread be made ahead?

We think the flavor and texture of soda bread are best when eaten the day it’s baked. Plus, it's a kind of bread that can get stale sooner than regular bread. You can make it a couple of days beforehand (no need to refrigerate it), and you can freeze slices for a few months, but you might want to toast the bread after doing this. Be sure to store the soda bread in an airtight container or wrap it well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does gluten-free soda bread taste like traditional soda bread?

With most gluten-free breads, the taste is similar. However, the texture may not be the same—maybe crumblier, but that will depend on the recipe.

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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk

  • 1 large egg

  • 4 tablespoons melted butter, divided

  • 3 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

  2. Whisk buttermilk, egg and 3 tablespoons melted butter in a medium bowl.

  3. Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to combine. Increase speed to medium and slowly add the buttermilk mixture until a soft dough forms. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

  4. Brush the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over the base and partway up the sides of an 8-inch cast-iron skillet. Dust hands with flour and form the dough into a ball. Press the dough into the prepared pan. Use a sharp knife to score a deep "X" into the top of the dough.

  5. Bake until lightly browned and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, February 2018

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

159 Calories
6g Fat
24g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Serving Size 1 slice
Calories 159
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 5g 9%
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 29mg 10%
Vitamin A 191IU 4%
Folate 4mcg 1%
Sodium 370mg 16%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 1mg 7%
Magnesium 4mg 1%
Potassium 48mg 1%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm

Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators.

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