Cucina Nicolina

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Cookbook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • GF Spring Favorites
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbook
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • GF Spring Favorites
    • Recipe Index
    • Cookbook
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • A gluten free funfetti cupcake cut in half on a plate.
      Gluten-Free Funfetti Cupcakes
    • A loaf of porridge bread with a slice of bread.
      Leftover Porridge Bread
    • A cute bunny bread decorated with raisins.
      Homemade Bunny Bread
    • Cups of milk and plates of chocolate chip and walnut cookies.
      Chocolate Chip and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies
    • A loaf of no knead whole wheat bread on a white counter.
      No Knead Whole Wheat Bread
    • A bowl of vegetarian white chili served with cornbread.
      Vegetarian White Chili
    • A gluten free unicorn cake topped with sprinkles.
      Gluten Free Unicorn Cake
    • Slices of cranberry walnut bread cut from a loaf.
      No-Knead Cranberry Walnut Bread
    • A unicorn bar turned on its side on a plate with more bars.
      Unicorn Bars
    • A pitcher of homemade lemonade with lemons and glasses of lemonade.
      Homemade Lemonade
    • A loaf of cinnamon raisin bread on a wooden cutting board cut into slices.
      No Knead Cinnamon Raisin Bread
    • A bowl of gluten free chili on a napkin with a spoon in it.
      Gluten Free Chili
    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread

    Published: Mar 11, 2024 by Nicole Spiridakis ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    My gluten free Irish soda bread recipe is my gluten free take on a classic! Whole grain oat flour is mixed with sour milk, an egg, and a little maple syrup to make a sturdy, crusty loaf. Based on an Irish recipe, this soda bread is wonderful in sandwiches, for toast, and more!

    A loaf of gluten free Irish bread on a wooden board cut into slices.

    Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe

    This beyond-easy recipe for gluten free Irish soda bread is inspired by a recipe in Darina Allen's "The Forgotten Skills of Cooking." In the cookbook, this type of Irish soda bread is called "brown soda bread" and is considered to be a more modern soda bread because it's made with an egg and a little sweetener. Unlike a free-form soda bread - like in my recipe for gluten free soda bread - the dough is baked in a loaf pan and doesn't require kneading. A tender yet sturdy whole grain crumb makes this bread perfect for sandwiches, toasting and serving with jam, and more.

    Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread

    • Easy – You need just one gluten-free flour, whole grain oat flour, to form the base of the dough. A few other gluten-free basics round out the ingredients list.
    • Traditional – I based this soda bread recipe on a simple Irish soda bread recipe written by an Irish baker. Learn more about Darina Allen here.
    • Quick Gluten Free Bread Recipe - Unlike other gluten-free bread recipes that can become complicated, this is a simple recipe that needs less than an hour and a half to put together. And, it actually tastes good and is sturdy enough to slice and use for sandwiches!
    Ingredients needed for gluten free Irish soda bread are shown: sour milk, oat flour, baking soda, salt, egg, oil, maple syrup.

    What You Need

    Check out the ingredients that go into this gluten free Irish soda bread below. Find the full ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post - this is just an overview.

    • Oat flour - My go-to choice for gluten-free baking, oat flour gives this soda bread a soft crumb and a nice rise
    • Salt - I always use fine sea salt in my recipes!
    • Baking soda
    • Egg - Use a large egg
    • Vegetable oil - Or use another neutral oil of choice
    • Maple syrup - I used maple syrup in this recipe - honey would also be nice, or try molasses, or brown sugar
    • Sour milk - My choice for this Irish soda bread is milk soured with vinegar. I added 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the milk (you can use whole milk or 2% milk) for the necessary acidity to help the bread rise. You can swap buttermilk if you wish

    Why Use Oat Flour?

    Oat flour is my favorite gluten-free flour to use in baking recipes. In many recipes, you can do a straight 1:1 swap if you measure the flour by weight (I’ve included both weight and cup measurements to keep things easy for you in the recipe card.) In this soda bread recipe, oat flour performs beautifully, mimicking whole wheat flour in how it works to create a sturdy loaf. It also adds a touch of whole grain flavor to this bread, which contains just a little maple syrup for sweetness.

    A loaf of gluten free Irish soda bread on a wooden cutting board.

    How to Make Irish Soda Bread

    Follow along with my photos below that will give you an idea of how you'll make this recipe. The detailed instructions are lower down in the recipe card.

    A tin loaf pan is greased with oil.
    The dry ingredients are whisked together.
    • Prep: Grease a loaf pan.
    • Combine dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
    The egg is whisked in a bowl.
    The milk, oil, and maple syrup are whisked into the eggs.
    • Whisk egg: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg.
    • Add remaining ingredients: Whisk in the oil, maple syrup, and sour milk.
    A well is made in the dry ingredients bowl.
    The wet mix is added to the dry mix.
    • Prep: Make a well in the dry ingredients.
    • Combine: Add in the wet ingredients all at once.
    A wet dough forms for Irish soda bread.
    The soda bread dough is placed in the loaf tin.
    • Mix: Stir until a soft dough forms.
    • Place in pan: Dump the dough into the prepared tin.
    The loaf cools in the pan on a wire rack.
    The baked loaf cools on a wire rack.
    • Bake: Preheat the oven to 400℉ and let the batter rest while the oven heats. Bake the loaf for about 1 hour.
    • Cool in tin: When the bread is done, cool it in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
    • Cool completely: Turn the loaf out onto the rack to cool completely. 
    A piece of gluten free Irish soda bread with butter on a plate with the loaf nearby.

    A Few Tips & Subsitution Suggestions

    Gluten-free baking benefits from following a few best practices such as hydrating the dough. I've included a few tips plus substitution options below:

    • Dough will be wet. After you combine the wet and dry mix, the dough will still be quite wet. This is normal! This soda bread is meant to be baked as a loaf, and it will come together as it bakes.
    • Hydrate the dough: As in all gluten-free baking, it’s important to let the dough sit for about 15 minutes while the oven heats so that the oat flour can soak up moisture, making for a more sturdy crumb.
    • Use buttermilk. My choice was to "sour' my milk by adding 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the amount of milk called for in the recipe. You could swap lemon juice for the vinegar, or substitute an equal amount of low-fat buttermilk.
    • Go dairy-free. Easily make this a gluten and dairy-free soda bread by substituting plant-based milk for the milk.
    • Oat flour substitute. Instead of oat flour, do a direct substitute of sorghum flour, which has a similar taste and texture to oat flour. Or, sub 4 cups of 1:1 gluten free flour for the oat flour.
    Slices of soda bread on plates with slices of cheddar cheese.

    Serving Options

    Gluten free Irish soda bread is wonderful served warm and fresh. Let the loaf cool a bit, then cut it into thick slices and top them with a little softened plain or salted butter. You can also drizzle honey over slices for a touch of extra sweetness.

    Or, add butter and a spoonful of your favorite jam to a slice of toasted soda bread. For a savory idea, use soda bread to make a cheese sandwich or a cheese toastie, or top slices with peanut or almond butter, fruit, or jam. You can also serve Irish soda bread with a hot bowl of broccoli or carrot cauliflower soup.

    A slice of gluten free Irish soda bread is topped with butter and served on a plate

    How to Store Irish Soda Bread

    This soda bread is wonderful on the day it's made, and keeps well for a few days well-wrapped. Here's how to store it properly:

    • Counter – Wrap the loaf in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and store it on the counter for up to 3 days.
    • Freezer – To freeze soda bread, wrap it in a layer of plastic wrap, then foil, or place it in a freezer-safe, sealable bag, and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the bread in the fridge before serving it.
    • To Reheat – Pop slices of gluten free soda bread in the toaster or toaster oven and toast until lightly crisp. Or, place the loaf of soda bread on a baking sheet and warm it in a 350℉ for five minutes.

    More Irish-Inspired Recipes

    • Gluten Free Chocolate Stout Cake
    • Gluten Free Soda Bread
    • Soda Biscuits
    A piece of gluten free Irish soda bread spread with butter on a plate.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Irish Soda Bread

    Nicole Spiridakis
    My gluten free Irish soda bread recipe is my gluten free take on a classic! Whole grain oat flour is mixed with sour milk, an egg, and a little maple syrup to make a sturdy, crusty loaf. Based on an Irish recipe, this soda bread is wonderful in sandwiches, for toast, and more!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Batter Resting Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Irish
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 252 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 ¼ cups oat flour (560 grams)
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup, honey, molasses, or brown sugar
    • 1 ⅔ cups sour milk , or buttermilk

    Instructions
     

    • Grease a loaf pan.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg, then whisk in the oil, maple syrup, and sour milk.
    • Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients all at once. Mix together until a soft, sloppy dough forms. Dump the dough into th prepared loaf tin.
    • Preheat the oven to 400℉ and let the batter rest while the oven heats, about 10-15 minutes. When the oven is ready, place the bread in the oven and bake for about 1 hour, until a crust forms on the top and the loaf sounds hollow when you knock on it.
    • Cool the bread in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely. The bread will keep for several days, wrapped in plastic, at room temperature.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 9gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 374mgPotassium: 259mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 93IUCalcium: 82mgIron: 2mg
    Disclaimer: Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is an estimate (I'm not a nutritionist and can't guarantee accuracy!). Even when not specified, be sure to check that all the ingredients you use are gluten free if you need them to be by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer.
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know in the comments how it went!

    More Bread

    • A loaf of easy dutch oven bread on a wooden cutting board.
      Easy Dutch Oven Bread
    • A slice cut out of a pan of pumpkin cornbread.
      Gluten Free Pumpkin Cornbread
    • Cornbread muffins on a red napkin.
      Gluten Free Honey Cornbread Muffins
    • A whole loaf of barm brack on a plate.
      Gluten Free Barm Brack
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    I'd love to hear from you! Please leave me a note. Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Welcome!

    Cucina Nicolina is your home for easy gluten free baking recipes made with simple, wholesome ingredients. I'm a writer, recipe developer and cookbook author who loves to share all things yummy and gluten free. Learn more about me.

    My Popular Recipes

    • An oat flour blueberry muffin is cut in half on a blue and white plate.
      Oat Flour Blueberry Muffins

    • Slices of oat flour cake on plates with the cake in the background.
      Oat Flour Cake

    • A piece of vanilla cake on a blue and white plate.
      Oat Flour Vanilla Cake

    • An oat flour scone on a plate.
      Oat Flour Scones


    Welcome Spring!

    • A slice of gluten free lemon curd cake on a plate near the cake.
      Gluten Free Lemon Curd Cake

    • A cup of tea, a slice of gluten free carrot cake with a fork, and the cake.
      Gluten Free Carrot Cake

    • A lemon and poppyseed cake cake on a white plate.
      Gluten Free Lemon and Poppyseed Cake

    • A slice of gluten free angel food cake with sliced strawberries and whipped cream.
      Gluten Free Angel Food Cake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    Terms and Conditions

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility

    Newsletter

    Sign up for my newsletter

    About

    About Me

    Writing Work

    Contact

    © Copyright 2025 Cucina Nicolina

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.