Vegan Soda Bread: A Dairy-Free Irish Bread

This traditional Irish vegan soda bread is just in time for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration! This quick bread uses baking soda and vegan buttermilk to create a crusty outside, and warm and fluffy inside!

Making quick breads is such fun! It’s a simple process that is almost fool proof!

I’m a newbie when it comes to yeast breads, but quick breads, I’m a pro! There is nothing better than a simple banana bread, vegan muffins, or a homemade vegan coffee cake.

For me, when it comes to baking there is always something a bit therapeutic about the whole experience.

Measuring out the ingredients, mixing, and stirring, folding in dried fruits or nuts, and placing it in the oven, with the sweet aroma wafting through the house makes me have all the feels!

This Irish vegan soda bread is no exception! While walking through the baking section of Trader Joe’s I saw they were selling their own version.

My son begged for me to buy it, but I told him I could do him one better! We’d make a vegan version at home.

Turning a traditional Irish soda bread recipe vegan is really quite simple. A traditional recipe includes baking soda to help it leaven, along with buttermilk for a slight tang. It’s dotted with raisins or currents. It has a crunchy crust, and a warm fluffy interior.

It’s the perfect bread to serve for breakfast, have as a snack, or even serve alongside dinner.

I break out this recipe every March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Why you’ll love this Irish Vegan Soda Bread…

• Easy to make
• Simple pantry ingredients
• A delicious raisin bread
• No expert baking skills needed
• Vegan and Dairy-Free
• Egg-Free
• Oil-Free
• Made with whole grains

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

White Whole Wheat Flour: Traditional Irish soda bread is made with all purpose flour. I used white whole wheat flour to increase the fiber, and make this bread whole grain. You can also use all-purpose flour if you do not have white whole wheat flour.

Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar adds a touch of sweetness to this bread. It is an unrefined sugar. You can leave it out if you prefer.

Baking Soda: Soda bread gets its name from the added baking soda that helps it leven.

Vegan Buttermilk: Vegan buttermilk is simple to make by coming plant based milk with either apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. I prefer using soy milk, buy you can use the plant milk of your choice. Be sure to use unsweetened milk.

Tools and Equipment

• Mixing Bowls
• Spatula
• Cast Iron Skillet (baking sheet, cake pan, or pie pan)

Hot to Make Irish Vegan Soda Bread – Step by Step

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 F. Prepare baking dish. You can use a cast iron skillet (traditional), a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, a cake pan (9 inch). Line your pan of choice with parchment paper.

Step 2: Combine 2 cups of soy milk with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Whisk together. Set to the side, and allow to sit for 10 minutes until milk curdles and turns to buttermilk.

Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk together the white whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and coconut sugar. Add the raisins to the dry ingredients. Stir together to combine evenly.

Step 4: Pour the buttermilk into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Gently fold the ingredients together until combined. Dough will be crumbly.

Step 5: Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Lightly flour your hands and work the dough into a ball. Knead the dough for about 30 seconds or until the flour is fully worked into the dough.

Step 6: Transfer the ball of a dough to your baking pan of choice. Score an X on the top of the ball using a sharp knife.

Step 7: Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time at about 22 minutes, place an aluminum foil tent on top to avoid the top from burning. Allow bread to cool for 10 minutes in the baking pan. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Top Tips for Making Irish Vegan Soda Bread

• Don’t knead the dough too much. It will make the bread rather tough. The dough does not need to look perfect.
• Scoring an X over the top not only looks cute, and creates an authentic look, but it also helps the bread bake evenly throughout the center.
• The traditional vessel used to bake soda bread is a cast iron skillet. However, if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you may use a baking sheet, cake pan, or even a pie pan. Be sure to either grease the pan, or line with parchment paper.

How to Serve

Warm: I love enjoying this bread slightly cooled, but still warm on the inside. It tastes perfect with a pat of vegan butter!

Toasted: Place a slice of bread in the toaster to warm it up! Serve with fresh preserves.

Room Temperature: Slice and serve at room temperature. This bread is delicious with your morning coffee, a mid-day snack, or even served alongside your dinner!

How to Store and Keep

Store: You can store this bread at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you don’t plan to eat the bread in the next couple of days, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator. When storing at room temperature place the bread in paper bag, or zip-top bag. If storing in the refrigerator, place in an air tight container or zip-top bag.

Keep: This bread will keep at room temperature for 2-3 days. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Freeze: You can also freeze this bread! Place in an air tight freezer safe bag. Label with the date and contents. This bread will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, transfer the bread to the refrigerator to defrost. I recommend warming the bread in the oven before serving.

Check out these other vegan Irish recipes!

• Vegan Irish Cream
• Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
• Vegan Irish Stew
• Tofu Corned Beef (Vegan)
• Vegan Shamrock Shake

If you’ve made this recipe, please comment below and let me know how it turned out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more vegan plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!