Sometimes, I just want a very simple bread that doesn’t take all day to make.
Soda bread is versatile, delicious, and quick in the bread machine.
The sides and bottom of the loaf are crispy and firm. The top steams a bit. The middle is soft and crumbly.
We prefer our soda bread without fruit, seeds, or nuts. It’s delicious either way, I’m sure.
We serve this with soups, for snacks, for breakfasts. It goes great with our lamb stew!
My bread machine completes this quick bread cycle in about 1.5 hours.

Soda bread isn’t just for Saint Patrick’s Day!
Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 c water
- 1 c buttermilk +2T
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- 2 T unsalted butter
- 2 T molasses
- 1 c whole wheat flour
- 2 c bread or cake flour
- 1/2 t baking soda
- 1 1/2 t kosher or sea salt
- 2 t yeast
- 2 t caraway seeds optional
- 1 c currants and/or raisins optional
Instructions
Place all ingredients in the bread machine in order – liquid ingredients at the bottom and dry ingredients on top. I like to put the yeast in last, making a little divet in the center of the flour.
Set bread machine to "Quick" cycle. Go live your life for a couple hours.
When the bread machine beeps, you can add seeds and fruit to the cycle if using.
Allow bread to set for 10 minutes before removing it from the bread machine. It'll steam a bit and be softer.
Serve sliced warm with salted Irish butter and/or jam.
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