By Wendy Stoltz and Yuliia Stsepeleva / Last Modified On February 15, 2023

This gluten-free Irish soda bread has the best texture and flavor. It is a Classic Irish side that needs to be on your St Patrick's day table. It has no yeast, the perfect golden crust, and a super soft center.

This quick bread is made without any yeast. You can add dried currants or raisins, the choice is up to you. My personal favorite is smothering it with butter and enjoying it on its own or dunking it in an Irish stew.

If you love gluten-free bread, make this homemade gluten-free bread recipe or this tried and tested gluten-free sourdough bread! If you are in the market to buy a bread machine, view 5 of the BEST gluten-free bread machines and why I recommend them.

GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD RECIPE

So, contrary to widespread belief, Irish soda bread is not Irish originally. It has roots in America, where ash was used instead of leaving agents we know today.

We love making gluten-free Irish soda bread throughout the year, but especially on St Patrick's day. It makes a great potluck recipe too. Be prepared to make an extra loaf or two. 

Making this bread really is effortless without worrying about yeast, so try it with my step-by-step instructions and tips for success.

WHY YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD

No yeast - This GF Irish soda bread has no yeast, making it simple to prepare.

Great for St Patrick's day - This bread pairs well with your St Patrick's day main meal.

Gluten-free - You won't miss regular gluten with this quick bread recipe.

INGREDIENTS IN GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD

Egg - 1 egg at room temperature.

Sugar - 2 tbsp of granulated sugar.

Leavening agents - 1 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp baking powder.

Salt - ⅕ tsp salt. I like to control the amount of salt I add.

Buttermilk - 1 cup buttermilk. 

Butter - ⅓ cup unsalted butter. I use unsalted butter as I add in my own salt.

Flour - 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour.

Dried fruit - ⅓ cup dried currants. You can also use raisins. 

Lemon - 1 tsp lemon juice.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD

Bakeware - round, 8" in diameter, 5" high.

Mixing bowls - These Pyrex mixing bowls come in handy.

If you have any questions about making gluten-free Irish soda bread, please leave a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. In a deep bowl, mix gluten-free flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
2. Then add the butter cut into small cubes.
3. With your hands (or in a blender), rub the dry ingredients together with the butter until you get a uniform fine crumb.
4. Add dried currants to this crumb.
5. After that, add buttermilk, lemon juice and egg, and start kneading the dough.
6. You should get a thick sticky dough, but do not add more flour, otherwise the bread will turn out to be too dense and hard.
7. Transfer the resulting dough into a round shape with high sides, make a cross on the surface with a knife. To begin with, you can cover the form with foil and bake for the first 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes to brown the bread. After baking, carefully remove the bread from the baking dish, let it cool, after which it can be tasted.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions in gluten-free Irish soda bread, please see the complete recipe below.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST GF IRISH SODA BREAD

Don't overmix the dough - This will result in tough bread.

Score the top with an X - This X helps the bread to cook right through. 

Add egg or milk wash - If you prefer a browner crust add egg or milk wash.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I STORE GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD?

This bread dries out quickly. I prefer storing it at room temperature tightly wrapped for about 3-4 days.

CAN I FREEZE GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD?

Yes, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. I suggest it is wrapped in an airtight container. 

CAN YOU MAKE THIS GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD AHEAD OF TIME?

You can make it ahead, but I suggest you serve it prior to 4 days as it dries out.

WHAT SUBSTITUTIONS / REPLACEMENTS CAN I MAKE IN THIS GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD?

Dried fruit - You can use raisins or dried currants. It's your choice!

Egg-free - I have not tried an egg replacer, please comment below if you do. 

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SODA BREAD AND IRISH SODA BREAD?

Soda bread used ash as a leavening agent originally. The Irish then replicated this process with modern leavening agents.

DOES IRISH SODA BREAD CONTAIN GLUTEN?

Yes, it is usually made with flour containing gluten. This recipe, however, is made with gluten-free ingredients. Check the labels on your ingredients. 

WHY IS MY IRISH SODA BREAD SO CRUMBLY?

You may have used too much flour causing the bread to crumble. Measure your flour correctly. 

SHOULD GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD BE KNEADED?

Yes, the dough needs to be kneaded briefly. But not to the same extent as gluten containing flour recipes.

DOES GLUTEN-FREE IRISH SODA BREAD HAVE TO HAVE RAISINS?

No, we have used dried currants as they are smaller, and it is personal preference. Try both and see which you prefer.

WHY IS THERE A CROSSCUT INTO THE IRISH SODA BREAD?

The crosscut is so that the bread on the thicker part cooks through. It was also thought to be a symbol of a cross.

WHY MAKE YOUR OWN IRISH SODA BREAD?

It really is such an effortless process without worrying about yeast. Tastes so much better and you can choose raisins or dried currants too.

 Did you make this gluten-free Irish soda bread recipe? Please leave me a comment below letting me know what you thought.