Over 20 Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread Recipes (Too Good for St. Patrick’s Day Only!)

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Saint Patrick’s Day is also Irish Food Day according to Foodimentary, which seems pretty obvious. One of the classic Irish recipes enjoyed on St. Patrick’s Day is Irish Soda Bread. And I’m happy to say I have a great collection of gluten-free Irish Soda Bread recipes to share with you today!

 

You might be thinking “Wow, Shirley, you’re a little late on sharing these recipes!” Well, I am late if you only eat Irish Soda Bread on St. Patrick’s Day but that would be such a shame. Irish Soda Bread is a terrific, easy-to-make gluten-free bread that can become a regular part of your menu throughout the year. 

There are lots of additions that can change the flavor of the bread to create new variations when you want to change things up from your usual favorites. Raisins, caraway seeds, currants, cranberries, oranges, cheese, rosemary (and other herbs), and cinnamon (and others spices) are some of the possibilities. (In a way, Irish Soda Bread reminds me of this Golden Flax Bread, because it has the same simplicity and can have many delicious flavor variations.)

Before we get to the recipes, I have a confession. I get so excited about sharing these recipe collections whenever I start reading the descriptions from the recipe creators and when I start gathering the reader reviews. When I see the rave reviews, I know just how helpful these recipes will be to you all. That’s true whether you’re eating “just gluten free” or you live gluten free with some additional restrictions. I always share information such as dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, keto, or vegetarian. Because I’m sharing bread recipes with you today, I’ve also noted if recipes are “yeast free” and “xanthan gum free” as well.  

Now let’s get to these beautiful and delicious loaves of gluten-free Irish Soda Bread! Will you enjoy yours with some corned beef and a mug of cabbage soup or perhaps a cup of tea or a nice tall glass of gluten-free beer?

p.s. This is the latest installment of my Bountiful Bread Basket series. As always, all photos are reprinted with the permission of the individual authors/photographers. See the other gluten-free bread recipes (loaves, rolls, biscuits, focaccia, flatbread, naan, and more) featured on gfe here or take a look at the individual posts in the series here:

~ Part 1:  Top 20 Gluten-Free Bread Recipes:  Loaves

~ Part 2a: The Best Gluten-Free Rolls

~ Part 2b: The Best Gluten-Free Biscuits

~ Part 3:  Top 20 Gluten-Free Bread Recipes Made in a Bread Machine, Plus More Info and Tips on Bread Machines

~ Part 4:  Top 30+ Best Gluten-Free Tortilla and Wrap Recipes

~ Part 5:  Top 30+ Best Gluten-Free Hamburger, Hot Dog, and Sandwich Roll Recipes

~ Part 6:  Top 50+ Best Gluten-Free Flatbread, Focaccia, Naan, and Pita Bread Recipes

~ Part 6b: The Best Gluten-Free Focaccia Recipes (20 Recipes)

~ Part 7:  Top 50+ Best Gluten-Free Bagel, Breadstick, Croissant, English Muffin, and Soft Pretzel Recipes

~ Part 7a: The Best Gluten-Free Bagel Recipes (30!)

~ Part 7c: The Best Gluten-Free Croissant and Crescent Roll Recipes

~ Part 7d: The Best Gluten-Free English Muffin Recipes 

~ Part 7e: The Best Gluten-Free Soft Pretzel Recipes

~ Part 8:  Over 50 More of the Best Gluten-Free Loaf Bread Recipes

~ Part 8a: 20 Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipes

~Part 8b: The Best Gluten-Free French Bread Recipes (Including Baguettes)

~ Part 9:  Top 20 Gluten-Free Challah Bread Recipes

~ Part 10: Over 20 Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread Recipes (this post)

~ Part 11: The Best Gluten-Free Sourdough Bread Recipes (and More Sourdough Goodness)

Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread Recipes ~ Loaves

~ Almond Flour Soda Bread from Power Hungry ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, vegetarian, vegan

Reader reviews: “Just made this bread, very easy to put together and it came out great! My husband loved it as well! Will be making again.” and “I just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying this recipe. This bread is delicious and so easy! The taste and texture are just like regular grain bread!” 

~ Chickpea Flour Soda Bread from Power Hungry ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

Reader reviews: “I made these tonight (to go with homemade pea soup) and they were amazing – thank you so much! I’m adjusting to a wheat/gluten intolerance of some sort and wanted something with really simple ingredients, and love how fuss-free these are. Mine cooked in just 10 minutes (think the oven runs hot), but the texture and flavour were brilliant. Will definitely be making them regularly!” and “These are absolutely perfect! I was in search of a Garbanzo Bean flour recipe and settled on this because of its simplicity. THANK YOU!!” and “I’ve made these a few times and they’re delicious.”

~ Easy Irish Soda Bread Machine Recipe (Gluten Free, Vegan) from Fresh Is Real ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, vegan

Chantal says: “This Easy Irish Soda Bread Machine Recipe (GF Vegan) is similar to my original recipe, but this one is for the bread machine. From start to finish, it takes a little over one hour to mix and bake in a bread machine.”

~ Incredible Irish Soda Bread from Fresh Is Real ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, vegan 

Reader reviews: “I just made this recipe and my husband and I love it. It was pretty easy and turned out really nice.” and “I just made this and it’s absolutely delicious! I did sub out quinoa flower for the brown rice flour since that’s what I had on hand and I forgot to add the raisins but still wonderful.” and “I tried this recipe and it’s very quick, easy and really delicious! I made some little swaps and used potato starch instead of tapioca starch, then I used plain milk kefir instead of plain yogurt and I used honey instead of maple syrup. I definitely recommend this recipe!”

~ Keto Irish Soda Bread from All Day I Dream About Food ~ gluten free, grain free, sugar free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, vegetarian

Reader reviews: “Amazing bread! I didn’t add cranberries, but it’s great without. Made this bread already a couple of times and even 2 for our good friends.” and “I made this today and OMG! it’s so good! I can’t wait to have another slice with butter.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Art of Gluten-Free Baking ~ gluten free, yeast free, vegetarian

Jeanne says that she got her original recipe from a fellow preschool mom many years ago. She adapted the loaf to be gluten-free. She described it as easy to make and pleasantly sweet. She’s not sure that it’s authentic, but she reports that it’s yummy just the same!

Reader review: “OMG Jeanne this is fabulous! Brings a tear to me eye. Tastes just like home.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Better Batter ~ gluten free, vegetarian, yeast free, with dairy-free option

Reader reviews: “I made the Irish soda bread for St. Patrick’s Day and it was delicious! I will definitely make it again.”

~ Irish Soda Bread (Low-Fructose) from Delicious As It Looks ~ gluten free, dairy free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, Low-FODMAP, with dairy-free option

Dianne says: “This savory version of Irish Soda Bread is gluten-free, low-fructose and very moist and tender. Enjoy warm and slathered with butter!”

~ Irish Soda Bread-ish from Edible Perspective ~ gluten free, vegetarian, yeast free, with refined sugar-free option

Ashley says that this recipe “falls in between Irish soda bread, drop biscuits, cornbread, and scones. That’s why I finally decided on Irish Soda Bread-ish.” She adds: “It comes together in under 10 minutes and then takes about 30 minutes to bake. Definitely an easy bread to make and a fabulous breakfast option. It’s very low in sugar and has a good bit of protein and fiber from the whole-grain (and almond) flours.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Gluten Free Easily ~ gluten free, egg free, vegetarian

This recipe from one of my gfe readers, Susan Cross Johnson, uses Mama’s Gluten-Free Almond Blend. Susan says: “I was pretty picky as a kid, but the raisins and caraway seeds tucked into Mom’s dense, yet still soft Irish Soda Bread, made it amazing. I have made my gluten-free version countless times now and it makes me happy every time. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!” And she offers two more equally delicious variations on this recipe.

~ Irish Soda Bread from Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Cake ~ gluten free, egg free, sugar free, yeast free, vegetarian

Reader reviews: “This is so good Kim!!!! Even cold its soft and delicious. I put fresh rosemary in it and the flavor is fantastic. Thank you!!!” and “Wanted some hot fresh bread tonight to go with a pot of vegetable beef soup, and then I remembered you had a recipe for soda bread. Easy to mix up, quick to get ready, and oh so delicious! Soft, chewy, slight tang from the buttermilk. From start to finish, a lovely bread.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Mama Knows Gluten Free ~ gluten free, vegetarian, yeast free, with dairy-free, egg-free options

Reader reviews: “This recipe is the best. I’ve made it a few times and it comes out great.” 

~ Irish Soda Bread from Gluten-Free Makeovers ~ gluten free, yeast free, vegetarian

Beth says: “Irish Soda Bread, aka Soda Bread, is another tradition that can be enjoyed year-round.  In fact, I encourage it! The version served with Corned Beef is usually studded with caraway seeds.  I’m not a fan.  My preference is the recipe here, laced with orange rind and currants.” She also gives you instructions on how to make this recipe as scones. Beth says that her recipe was inspired by Ina Garten.

~ Irish Soda Bread from Texanerin ~ gluten free, vegetarian, yeast free, with dairy-free options

Note that Erin actually calls her recipe simply Soda Bread versus Irish Soda Bread. I’ve restored the Irish in the label for the purposes of this collection. She explains: “I’m aware that my recipe isn’t a traditional Irish soda bread recipe. It’s an Americanized version. From an Irish American who has been to Ireland and eaten real soda bread. 😉 It’s definitely not authentic to use egg, sugar, and raisins, but is authenticity really important when this bread is so incredibly tasty?” She has a point plus, I see many “Irish Soda Bread” recipes that feature the same ingredients as hers. Anyway, check out just a few of the rave reviews of Erin’s recipe below!

Reader reviews: “I love finding easy gluten-free bread recipes, and this one is a real winner. It was done asap and came out delicious. I will be making it again; there were no crumbs left!” and “This baked treat was really soft and moist! We all loved this, and it had just the right amount of sweetness!” and “I didn’t think I would be able to bake this type of bread, but following your instructions it came out wonderful!”

~ Irish Soda Bread from The Toasted Pine Nut ~ gluten free, grain free, egg free, sugar free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, vegetarian

Reader reviews: “This little loaf is so GUUUUUUUUD! I’ve made this a few times now and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly it goes.” and “I just made the bread and it is delicious!”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Elana’s Pantry ~ grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free, yeast free, xanthan gum free, vegetarian, paleo, primal

Elana says: “Be sure to let the bread cool for an hour! That’s where the perfect crumb forms.”

Guess what? I have enjoyed Elana’s Irish Soda Bread, a loaf that she actually made herself! It was excellent but I will confess that I picked out the raisins in my slice. LOL but true.

Reader reviews: “Very easy to make and tasty! My husband and son could not have it enough 🙂 Thank you for this wonderful recipe!!!” and “Amazing recipe! I’m Irish and baked this for St. Patty’s Day. Will be making it EVERY year from now on. Tastes just like my sister’s Irish bread which has gluten.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Gluten-Free Goddess ~ gluten free, dairy free, yeast free, vegetarian, with egg-free option

Karina says: “Rustic soda breads are really best eaten warm from the oven. This latest version is tender and slightly sweet—perfect for tea time.”

~ Irish Soda Bread (Rice Free) from Gluten-Free Goddess ~ gluten free, dairy free, yeast free, with egg-free, xanthan gum-free options

Karina says: “We freeze our leftover slices (wrapped in foil and bagged), then reheat the thawed pieces in a warm iron skillet with a drizzle of light olive oil. Heaven.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Jeanette’s Healthy Living ~ gluten free, dairy free, yeast free, vegetarian

Jeanette used Irish Soda Bread as her starting point and shares her changes in her post. She says: “This Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread came out so moist compared to the dry Irish Soda Bread I’ve had in the past. My kids enjoyed this for breakfast with some organic strawberry jam. I froze the rest and will be serving it on St. Patrick’s Day!”

~ Irish Soda Bread from My Gluten-Free Kitchen ~ gluten free, vegetarian, yeast free

Reader reviews: “Chiming to say, that I followed this recipe tonight while in the kitchen. It was easy, and it is satisfying. The loaf has great color and is like a biscuit I can cut big wedges out of and put butter atop. This makes my day!” and “I made this bread for St. Patrick’s Day and it was amazing! I too am not a fan of raisins so I left them out. This bread was so moist and so easy to make! I will be making this all the time now.” and “Best soda bread I’ve ever made or eaten!! I bake a lot and have tried many recipes, but none – ever – as good as this! The bread is moist and so flavorful! We couldn’t stop eating it! This will be my go-to recipe from now on!”

~ Irish Soda Bread from No Gluten, No Problem ~ gluten free, yeast free, vegetarian

Reader reviews: “Made this for dinner tonite! Loved it!” and “I make it every year!” and “I used them as pita for leftover lamb gyros, complete with homemade tzatziki, fresh tomatoes, onions & shredded lettuce. YUM!!”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Ricki Heller ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, sugar free, vegetarian, vegan

Ricki said: “Since the holidays are (too) fast approaching, and since I’ve already shared a bread-free stuffing recipe last week, I thought it only fair to present this fabulous gluten-free soda bread for those of you who prefer your stuffing bread-based. Bake up a loaf, cut into chunks, and there’s your stuffing base. Or … just eat this with a smear of homemade vegan butter instead.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Gluten-Free Home Bakery ~ gluten free, dairy free, yeast free, vegetarian

Ali says: “For years I have been making traditional Irish soda bread, not the sweet bread with caraway seeds and dates or raisins, but the original type that is a simple loaf made with flour, buttermilk, baking soda and salt. It is so quick and easy that I made it a few times a week, then stopped when I went gluten-free. I’ve been wanting to try to recreate a gluten and dairy-free version and thanks to some suggestions from members at the Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread Facebook group, I was able to make an incredible loaf that doesn’t taste gluten or dairy-free.”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Strength and Sunshine ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

Reader reviews: “Best tasting gluten-free bread! I added 1 TBS caraway seeds … yumm! Mom said better than cake!” and “This one is so great! I am always looking for vegan bread and cakes. This is totally awesome!”

~ Irish Soda Bread from Vibrantly G-FREE ~ gluten free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, with dairy free option

Jamie says: “Irish Soda Bread is made with baking soda instead of yeast like most loaves of bread. This means no rising time or serious kneading required! I think it tastes better too! This recipe is soft on the inside and crisp on the outside, with a touch of sweetness from the honey.”

Reader reviews: “I just made this recipe and it is delish! So glad I found a good gluten-free version. The recipe was easy to follow. Thanks so much!” and “This bread also goes perfectly with your tomato soup!”

Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread Recipes ~ Biscuits and Buns

Sometimes you want that Irish Soda Bread experience, but you’d prefer it in a biscuit or bun over a loaf. Here are two delicious recipes that help you do just that!

~ Vegan Oat Soda Bread Biscuits from Power Hungry ~ gluten free (be sure to use certified gluten-free purity protocol oats), dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, vegan, yeast free, xanthan gum free

Camilla says these “vegan oat soda bread biscuits are for St. Patrick’s Day or any day! They are gluten-free and easy to make in no time at all.”

~ Irish Soda Buns from Gluten-Free Goddess ~ gluten free, yeast free, vegetarian, with dairy-free, xanthan gum-free options

Karina says: “Here is an Irish soda bread inspired bun-roll recipe to try. Bun, roll, mini-bread- whatever you call these tender tea-worthy babies, one thing is for sure. They’re delicious.”

~ Megan’s Lucky Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread from Megan P Gluten Free via My Gluten-Free Cucina ~ gluten free, vegetarian

Originally published March 16, 2022; updated October 19, 2024.