You say “vegan Irish soda bread?” Not a chance! Now don’t be gettin’ your knickers bunched up or start shaking your shillelagh at me. (visiting Ireland, don’t make these comments or ask about Leprechauns!) I’m no arse. I enjoy vegan cooking, can’t eat gluten, love soda bread, and am really f**king Irish. I had no choice, but to alter my grandmother’s traditional Irish Soda Bread recipe… sorry grandma.
Ingredients
Grandma’s Irish soda bread is one of my favorite family traditions. St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect excuse to have a never-ending supply of soda bread. This is the only baking I truly excel at. The recipe is so easy, even I can make it! Enjoy it for breakfast, dessert, or after a Reuben sandwich.
Ingredient list
A wee-bit of family history
My grandparents immigrated from Achill, Ireland. They came to America full of hopes and dreams. My grandparent’s cozy home was full of family, laughter, music, and bursting with comfort food and a traditional Irish brogue. Their kitchen was filled with heavenly aromas, social tea cookies, sugar-laden tea, my grandmother in her iconic apron, and Irish soda bread made with white flour, sugar, a little fat and always served with a side of butter.
Vegan buttermilk
- Plant-Based Milk, 2 cups
- Apple Cider Vinegar, 4 tablespoons
- Medium bowl, whisk these two ingredients together and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes. You just made vegan buttermilk!
This is a delicious vegan gluten-free recipe that even your most ardent Irish folks will love. Don’t forget the vegan butter and Irish tea. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, and after dinner snack.
Irish blessing
My dad was notorious for making a heartfelt blessing funny. I am sure he would have had some fun with this one. Miss you dad!
In short, have fun in the kitchen, don’t take yourself too seriously. Subscribe, share, and let me know how “YOU” made it your own. Share your positive comments and suggestions. ❤️ from VGFL.
Ingredients
Vegan Buttermilk
- 2 cups non-dairy milk
- 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Egg Replacer
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 6 tbsp water
Dried Fruit
- 1 cup raisins or cranberries
- 2 cups boiling water
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups gluten-free baking flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vegan shortening I use Spectrum
- 2/3 cups sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Vegan Buttermilk:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
Egg Replacer:
- In a small bowl, whisk together ground flaxseed and water until combined. Set aside to let thicken.
Dried Fruit:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, pour boiling water over dried fruit until fruit is covered. Let dried fruit plump up for approximately 5-10 minutes, then drain and set aside.
Putting it All Together:
- Using a large bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and shortening. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Make sure to break up the shortening as you mix.
- Whisk together the sugar and the flaxseed “egg.” Fold sugar and flaxseed mix into flour mixture.
- To the flour mixture, slowly stir in buttermilk using your hands to mix. The batter will be sticky but not watery.
- Fold in drained dried fruit.
- Lightly grease a round pan. Gently place the batter into the pan making a dome shape. Cut cross-hatch across the top.
- Bake for 1 hour or until center is no longer wet.
Vegan Shrimp Scampi
Ethan Patrick
Hi Karen! I have been looking for a recipe for Irish soda bread that is GF and Vegan for well over a decade!! I have tried everything… struggling to make my dreams come true of recreating childhood moments that remind me of my mom serving Irish soda bread and tea on a weekend afternoon. Some of the best Irish fam memories are evoked by the food… so, this recipe means so much to me. THIS Irish soda bread is 100 percent legit. I wanted you to know that I love it, my family loves and I am so happy to be able to enjoy a proper Irish soda bread again. Thank you very much!
Karen
Ethan,
I couldn’t be happier that my Irish Soda bread evokes the memories that mean so much to you. Some of my favorite memories are going to my Irish grandmothers, having tea and Irish soda bread. My recipe took many years at an attempt to getting it close to my grandmother’s. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Of all my recipes this one is the closest to my heart. Cheers -Karen
Kara
Is the temp for 350 actually too high? Everything at that temp for many of my gf dairy free baking tends to not like it and I lower it 25 degrees and add more baking powder as I was told by a vegan baker this works. Last bread unfortunately I tried was raw inside for 4 hours cooking it out and hard on the outside. The flour i used was cup for cup by king Arthur which is a no fail but should I have added oat flour and more vegan butter when blending? The entire thing got dried out like a brick. Second try. I can bake sponge Swiss rolls, apple cake and sharlotka amd mini muffins of vegan gingerbread but this….is a headache. Any tips for a disgruntled baker?
Karen
Kara,
I understand your frustration I feel the same way when I bake. Irish Soda Bread is similar to a scone so it tends to be on the dry side. If I was able to use regular flour it would be less dense. I have used half GF oat flour and half GF King Arthur and it turns out better. I would not suggest cooking longer at a lower temp but honestly I struggle in the baking department. Try the half and half and see if that helps. Sorry I am not more helpful!
-Karen
Vili
Hi, I would like to try the recipe without sugar for i just love everything savory, do you believe it will work out?
Karen
Irish Soda Bread is a lot like a scone. It tends to be a little dry but still flavorful that is why I toast it and add vegan butter. I don’t think taking out the sugar will taste very good in my opinion. I haven’t tried it. Some people use date sugar or alternative natural sweeteners to replace granulated sugars. When I make the bread I use unbleached organic sugar. This is my grandmother’s recipe from Ireland and she LOVED sugar, bless her. I am not a sugar lover and find this recipe to not be as sweet as you would think given the amount of sugar it calls for. If you try the recipe without or at least less sugar, please let me know how it turns out.
Thanks,
Karen
Yvonne Holmes
I am wanting to use eggs how many will I use?
Thank you
Yvonne
You can use 2 eggs to replace the flaxseed eggs. Let me know how it works out.
-Karen
Karen
Karen
I am wanting to use eggs how many will I use?
Thank you
Yvonne
You can use 2 eggs to replace the flaxseed eggs. Let me know how it works out.
-Karen
Giulianna
Could I use my own gluten free flour blend? Thinking oat, millet, and tapioca?
Karen
Absolutely let me know how it turns out. Always looking for pointers.
-Karen
Savannah
Wow, this is amazing!! I sued panels gluten free flour, ground chia instead of flax, and goat milk kefir instead of plant milk since I am not vegan. Seriously, it is so so sooo good. Thank you so much!
Karen
I am so glad you liked it! Those are great substitutes, I love when you make it your own.
Kinga
What if I don’t have vegan shortening? Can I use coconut oil?
Karen
Sure! Let me know how it works out. The bread turns out more like a scone so we like to toast and slather with vegan butter. My grandmother, in her Irish brogue, always wanted to know if we wanted more buhher (butter).
Gena Rush
Can’t wait to make this. Love your stories about your family!
Karen
Thanks Gena stay safe and healthy💚
Kate
Made this today and it’s awesome! It’s so easy and delicious! Thank you!
Karen
Thank you so much for giving my grandmas recipe a try! Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Barb
Very, very good love Irish soda bread.