Easy vegan soda bread

What is soda bread?

Soda bread, often called Irish soda bread, is a simple yeast-free bread that is traditionally made from flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk.

Buttermilk is simply milk that has fermented. Vegans can achieve a similar result by adding a little lemon juice (or cider vinegar or white wine vinegar) to our dairy free milk.

The flour is mixed with salt and bicarbonate of soda. Once the buttermilk - or the milk mixed with lemon juice - is added to the mixture it starts to react. In the oven as the bread bakes this reaction continues to allow the bread to rise.

There’s no kneading, no waiting for it to rise and no need to find yeast. 

Soda bread is utterly gorgeous when eaten warm from the oven. It doesn’t keep for long so try to eat it on the day you’ve baked it, or slice it for toast the next day.

What kind of milk is best for vegan soda bread?

It’s best to use a neutral flavoured plant-based milk to make your soda bread. If you used a stronger tasting milk, such as almond or coconut, you’d be able to taste it in your bread. And while it might still taste good it might not go with what you’re eating the bread with.

So bear that in mind when choosing which milk to use. I’ve tested this recipe with soya milk and oat milk with great results from both.

How difficult is soda bread to make?

It’s so easy. The wonderful thing about soda bread is that it really is as easy as one, two, three.

One - mix everything together.

Two - shape and place on a baking tray.

Three - bake.

Traditional bread made with yeast needs to be kneaded, you need to leave time for it to rise and then extra time for the proving (second rise). You can avoid all of that by making soda bread.

But how does soda bread rise then?

Even though you’re not using yeast, soda bread will still rise. And the reason for that is the bicarbonate of soda, also known as baking soda.

This reacts with the lemon juice in the oven and creates a lovely rise while the bread is baking - without the need to leave it to rise before baking.

• 280ml neutral tasting dairy free milk eg oat or soya milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice - or sub apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
• 165g plain white flour
• 165g spelt flour (or use all plain white flour)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tablespoon oats, for topping optional

Do you need any special equipment to make soda bread?

All you need to make soda bread is:

• a mixing bowl
• spoon
• baking paper
• baking tray.
• A sieve is also useful but not essential. If you don’t have a sieve be sure to mix the flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda well together.

If you like this you might also like my vegan naan bread recipe.

How to make vegan soda bread

If you have made this recipe and loved it please consider leaving a comment and rating below.

Vegan soda bread

No yeast? No problem. With this simple recipe for vegan soda bread you can have a delicious loaf of fresh bread on the table in under an hour.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Bread

Cuisine British, Irish, Vegan

Servings 4 people

Calories 353 kcal

Ingredients

 

MetricUS customary

 

1x2x3x

• 280 ml neutral tasting dairy free milk eg oat milk or soya milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice*
• 165 g plain white flour
• 165 g spelt flour* or use all plain white flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda*
• 1 tablespoon oats for topping, optional

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
• Place 280ml dairy free milk into a jug and add 1 tbsp lemon juice. Stir and set aside.
• Sift 165g plain white flour and 165g spelt flour together with ½ tsp fine salt and ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
• Pour the milk mixture into the flour and stir well until you have a rough dough.
• Use your hands to form into a round and transfer to the baking tray.
• Cut a deep cross into the dough with a sharp knife. Sprinkle some oats on the top (optional).
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes. You can test whether it’s done by inserting a sharp knife in the centre - if it comes out clean it’s done.
• Soda bread is best served fresh - ideally straight from the oven. It can be served as toast the next day.

Notes

1. You can substitute 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or 1 tbsp white wine vinegar instead of the lemon juice.
2. It's also possible to make this soda bread with 330g plain white flour instead of using the spelt flour.
3. Use bicarbonate of soda or baking soda - don't be tempted to use baking powder instead or you won't get good results.
4. Nutritional information is approximate and is intended as a guide only.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 12gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 465mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 7gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 275IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 105mgIron: 4mg

Keyword vegan soda bread

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