Here is a Gluten free Irish soda bread recipe (with Dairy free option) that everyone will love. It’s lightly sweet and has a nice texture. You can make this healthy bread and feel good about serving it as a healthy food.

Does Irish Soda Bread Contain Gluten?

Irish soda bread is typically made with wheat flour so if you are purchasing a loaf chances are it is not gluten-free. Can you buy gluten free Irish Soda Bread? Maybe! Stores like Whole Foods may have gluten-free options but don’t assume unless it clearly says gluten-free on the label. Really the best way to get a nice loaf is to make it yourself.

How did Soda Bread Originate?

During the famine years, Irish grain was exported to England while Corn was imported from the US. Soda bread was born out of necessity, because the domestic flours did not have the properties needed to rise effectively when combined with yeast. The original recipe, dating back to 1836, had four simple ingredients: Flour, salt, (an acid to interact with the Soda), and Bicarbonate of Soda. The acid element used was sour milk or buttermilk left from butter-making. 

Dairy free Soda Bread Without Buttermilk

If you want a gluten free soda bread without buttermilk, it is possible. Our recipe

Gluten free flour for Irish Soda bread uses almond milk but any milk will do. Dairy-free milks like oat milk, cashew milk, or almond milk work well. In addition to dairy-free milk, goat milk also works. To make the rise reaction with the baking soda, some acid is needed. This is traditionally provided by the buttermilk but since we are not using that, we add apple cider vinegar to our milk. Our recipe also calls for butter but coconut oil is a suitable replacement to make it dairy free. It comes out great with either type of fat. I’ve made it both ways!

Ingredients Needed for this Recipe

• Gluten free flour blend
• baking soda
• baking powder
• Sea salt
• xanthan gum (if your flour blend doesn’t contain it)
• Raisins – a mix of raisins and golden raisins is really nice
• Granulated sugar or coconut sugar
• butter or coconut oil (if dairy free) softened
• 1 egg
• Dairy free milk or goat milk
• Apple cider vinegar

Which Gluten free Flour to use in Soda Bread?

Gluten free flour blends work well. I always have luck with King Arthur flour gluten free measure for measure flour. You could also use Bob’s Red Mills gluten free 1:1 flour or your favorite pre-made blend.

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