Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

Sourdough Irish soda bread with raisins is a fun twist on your traditional Irish soda bread recipe. This delightful treat is made with sourdough discard, orange zest, raisins, and a crunchy sugar topping.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Please read our disclosure policy.

There’s not a single ounce of Irish in these bones. However, I do love celebrating St. Patty’s day every March with delightful treats and cultrual staples. And since I’m not Irish, I feel like I can bend the rules a bit.

What Is Irish Soda Bread?

Basic soda bread recipes are comprised of 4 basic igredients: all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. Some recipes add caraway seeds and raisins. My sourdough Irish soda bread recipe with starter skips the caraway seeds, but keeps the raisings and adds a bit of orange zest for sweetness. 

Sourdough Irish soda bread recipe is a type of quick bread using baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, for its leavening agent, instead of commercial yeast or a sourdough starter. Baking soda is the base that reacts with the acidic nature of sourdough discard and buttermilk to produce the carbon dioxide gas. (The same as the volcano experiments with baking soda and vinegar)

There’s a reason for the longevity of this humble, homemade bread. Besides it being utterly delicious, it’s quick and easy to make using basic kitchen equipment.

I can mix and serve it with dinner in about an hour using a large mixing bowl or two, wooden spoon, and baking sheet. No special equipment like Dutch oven or a loaf pan. It’s a great go-to simple bread recipe for a weeknight dinner because we can all agree, fresh bread is always a good idea!

How to Make Sourdough Irish Soda Bread with Raisins

• Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. 
• Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Add grated butter, orange zest, and raising to the bowl.
• Mix Wet Ingredients: Combine the egg, buttermilk, and sourdough discard in a separate bowl. Pour the wet ingredients over the top of the flour mixture and stir until just combined. 

• Shape: Knead the dough a few times and shape into a ball and place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar and cut a cross on the top of the bread. Rest 10 minutes.
• Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes or until the bread’s internal temperature reads 195°F/90°C.

• Cool: Place the bread on a wire rack and cool completely before cutting. 
• Store: Like most baked goods, this sourdough soda bread is best the day its baked. Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. 

Homemade Irish Soda Bread Tips

• Be sure to use cold ingredients so the bread has a tender crumb and proper rise.
• Although this recipe is designed as a way to use up sourdough discard, you can also use active sourdough starter. Just be sure to weigh the ingredients instead of measuring by volume, as active starter contains more air than discard. 
• Don’t skip the rest time before baking. It allows the flour a chance to hydrate, helping the bread keep it’s shape and prevent it from spreading as it bakes. The first time I made it, I skipped this step and the bread baked into one cohesive puff ball without any evidence of the score.
• A blender or immersion blender makes quick work of breaking up the sourdough discard.

Ways to Serve Easy Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

• Keeping with the Irish theme, slather a slice with a thick helping of Irish butter.
• Toast and serve with coffee or hot tea for a simple, but hearty breakfast or afternoon snack. 
• Accentuate the orange flavor and top with butter and orange marmalade. 

Irish Bread FAQs

Can you make irish soda bread with sourdough starter?

Yes! Like other sourdough discard recipes, adding sourdough starter or sourdough discard starter provides a light tang, improves texture, and is a great way to use up discard. Sourdough discard Irish soda bread main rising agent is baking soda, hence the name.

is irish soda bread similar to sourdough bread?

A long fermented sourdough bread achieves its rise from the fermentation activity in the dough, resulting in light bread, depending on the type of flour you use. Irish soda bread using sourdough discard uses the chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acitity found in the starter discard and buttermilk.

can i make soda bread without buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, mix a cup of whole milk with a scant tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, or distilled vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes before using. 

can you make irish soda bread without raisins?

Yes, In fact, traditional Irish soda bread is often made without raisins, and served as a plain crusty bread.

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @LockremHomestead.

Sharing is caring!