Garlic Head

  • Fun & Healthy Plant-Based Recipes
  • Garlic Head Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe for Free Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • About Garlic Head
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vegan Summer Recipes
  • High Protein Vegan Meals
  • Budget Dinners
  • Recipe Index
  • Dog-Friendly
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Vegan Summer Recipes
  • High Protein Vegan Meals
  • Budget Dinners
  • Recipe Index
  • Dog-Friendly
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Snacks & Appetizers

Vegan Irish Soda Bread with Raisins and Caraway

Published: Mar 2, 2021 · Modified: Oct 4, 2024 by Emily · 9 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Easy Vegan Irish Soda bread, ready in one hour! With dried fruit and classic flavors like caraway, this simple vegan bread recipe is fun to make and a great pairing for so many meals.

irish soda bread cut in half on a wooden board with a blueberry jam in the background

What is soda bread?

Soda bread is a baked bread leavened with baking soda instead of yeast. It is eaten in many parts of the world today. Traditionally, soda bread is made with just flour, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), salt, and buttermilk. What makes this bread unique is that no yeast is involved in the baking process; also, no heavy kneading is required when preparing. As the name implies, baking soda and buttermilk do all of the leavening for you.

If you've made banana bread, think of this process as a similar "quick bread." One slight difference is that instead of baking in a traditional loaf pan, this soda bread bakes right on a tray, freeform.

How does vegan soda bread rise?

Dairy-free buttermilk in the soda bread dough contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to create bubbles of carbon dioxide, which rise the bread. This negates the need for yeast and intense kneading to build up a gluten network in the dough. Overworking the dough via kneading can actually yield a tougher end product, so stay away from mixing too heavily.

Soda bread is notable for its classic crumb structure, so keep this in mind when considering the final texture. The crust in particular will be nice and crispy.

overhead shot of two slices of Irish soda bread with jam on a white plate

How to Make Traditional Soda Bread with Raisins and Caraway

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl, add almond milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside to curdle.

2. Combine in a large bowl flour, brown sugar, raisins if using, flaxseeds, cornstarch, baking soda, sea salt, and caraway seeds if using. Mix until incorporated (no need to knead).

3. Add melted butter to buttermilk and slowly pour wet into dry ingredients well in large bowl. Fold dry mixture into wet. Mold dough into shape of your choice on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

4. Bake for around 50-60 minutes, until a knife stuck in the center comes out clean. Let cool fully before slicing.

Vegan Soda Bread FAQ:

Can I omit raisins in soda bread?

Yes, you can easily leave the raisins out of this recipe. I know some people really don't enjoy dried fruit, so I'd imagine any other fold-in (nuts, maybe?) would be tasty. However, the slight tang from the baking soda is a wonderful treat that pairs wonderfully with dried fruit. Soda bread made with raisins is colloquially called "Spotted Dog" or "Spotted Dick" in parts of Ireland.

What is the history of soda bread with raisins and caraway?

Traditional Irish soda bread was historically cooked on a griddle (like a flatbread). At this time, regularly available flours did not have the  protein qualities needed to rise when combined with yeast. Baking soda was a simple alternative, making it a popular option until more high gluten flours become more readily available.

overhead shot of two slices of Irish soda bread with jam on a white plate

What can I serve with this recipe?

This bread is delicious when toasted and slathered with butter or strawberry jam, pictured here. The plain version (without raisins) is also a nice pairing for soups and salads.

I hope you enjoy this simple loaf and that it helps get you through these last few weeks of winter, if that's your area of the world. Enjoy!

Looking for more bread recipes? Try one of these next:

  • Perfectly Fluffy Cornbread
  • Simple English Muffins
  • Cheesy Herbed Garlic Star Bread
irish soda bread cut in half on a wooden board with a blueberry jam in the background

Irish Soda Bread

Easy Irish Soda bread, ready in one hour! With dried fruit and classic flavors like caraway, this simple vegan bread recipe is fun to make and a great pairing for so many meals.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Course Bread
Cuisine Irish
Servings 20 slices (1 large loaf)
Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 and ½ cups unsweetened almond milk 363 grams
  • 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup vegan butter melted (56.7 grams)
  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour* 507.5 grams
  • ¾ cup brown sugar 150 grams [add more if you are not using raisins]
  • 1 cup raisins or dried fruit of choice optional
  • 2 TBS milled flaxseeds
  • 1 TBS cornstarch
  • 2 and ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt 6 grams
  • 1 TBS caraway seeds optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and set aside a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. In a small bowl, add almond milk and apple cider vinegar (this will be your "buttermilk"). Set aside to curdle for 10 minutes.
  • In the meantime, combine in a large bowl flour, brown sugar, raisins if using, flaxseeds, cornstarch, baking soda, sea salt, and caraway seeds if using. Mix until evenly incorporated (no need to knead).
  • Using a spoon, create a well in the center (this will be for wet ingredients). Add melted butter to buttermilk and slowly pour wet into dry ingredients well in large bowl. Fold dry mixture into wet, carefully avoiding clumps until you have a smooth dough (using your hands can be helpful here). If your dough is too wet, add a few more tablespoons of flour until it's easier to handle but not overly dry. Mold dough into shape of your choice on parchment-lined baking sheet (there's no real need to flatten). The dough will spread as it bakes.
  • Bake for around 50-60 minutes, until a knife stuck in the center comes out clean. Let cool fully before slicing (the bread structure will solidify as it cools).

Video

-

Notes

*If you have all purpose bread flour on hand, I recommend substituting this here

Nutrition

Serving: 1/20 of recipeCalories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 30.4gProtein: 2.7gFat: 4.8gSaturated Fat: 2.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gSodium: 329mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 12g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

More Snacks & Appetizers

  • charcuterie chateau on a marble table with vegetables
    Charcuterie Chalet
  • bowl of no bake zucchini bread bites next to a basket of zucchini
    No Bake Zucchini Bread Bites
  • hand holding a tortilla chip dipping into a bowl of creamy 3 ingredient vegan queso
    Vegan Super Bowl Recipes
  • line of three gourmet crackers on a marble cheese plate
    Seedy Gourmet Crackers

Comments

  1. carole says

    March 20, 2021 at 3:25 pm

    This was the best ever soda bread,,,.the best I ever had.! I think the almond milk made the differance.will definitely keep this recipe!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 20, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      I am so happy to hear that! Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sue0523 says

    March 17, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    Made this recipe AGAIN in honor of St. Patrick's Day - so delicious!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 17, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      Thank you, Happy St. Paddy's Day!!

      Reply
  3. Sue0523 says

    March 06, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    5 stars
    This is my new go-to soda bread - its SOOOO GOOD! I used regular butter instead of vegan (it's what I had) and a scant cup of sugar (no raisins in the house). Also - the recipe makes a lot, so I baked two smaller loaves for 43 minutes or so - turned out great!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 06, 2021 at 10:21 pm

      Yay thanks so much for sharing this feedback! I am so glad you liked it!!!

      Reply
  4. Kathy says

    March 03, 2021 at 2:24 pm

    5 stars
    Love the traditional flavors here!

    Reply
  5. Dan Meyers says

    March 03, 2021 at 4:01 am

    5 stars
    Looks great! Can't wait to try it!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 03, 2021 at 2:19 pm

      Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hi, I'm Emily! I have been a plant-based food blogger since 2017. Garlic Head is a recipe website for anyone who wants to easily, affordably, and sustainably incorporate more vegetables into their diet. I am a lifelong vegetarian and 10+ year vegan.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • side view of a bowl of frozen yogurt peanut butter dog treats
    Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
  • glass jar of homemade dog treats on a tray with a spoon of peanut butter
    3-Ingredient Dog Treats
  • black try with chewy homemade sour patch kids candy on top
    3-Ingredient Sour Patch Kids Recipe
  • hand grabbing a slice of fig jam bianca pizza on a wooden table
    Fig Jam Pizza Bianca
  • glass pitcher of carrot turmeric ginger juice being poured into a glass
    Carrot Ginger Turmeric Juice
  • overhead shot of a bowl of vegan beet carrot ginger soup with cilantro and sesame
    Beet Carrot Ginger Soup

Vegan Summer Recipes

  • cashew parm being poured on a bowl of pasta
    4-Ingredient Cashew "Parmesan"
  • close up of whipped ricotta tomato toast on a plate
    Whipped Ricotta Tomato Toast
  • banana split overnight oats next to fresh fruit
    Banana Split Overnight Oats
  • hands grabbing a slice of peach zucchini pizza
    Zucchini Peach Pizza
  • close up of vegan salted pistachio latte
    Salted Pistachio Latte
  • overhead view of flower shortbread cookies on a marble tray
    Flower Shortbread Cookies
See more Summer →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Resources

  • Get the free newsletter

Contact

  • Follow On Instagram
  • Work With Me

Copyright © 2025 Garlic Head, LLC