Easy Irish Soda Bread (Spotted Dog)

This traditional Irish Soda Bread-Spotted Dog requires no rising time and is so simple to put together. No kneading and no waiting…in no time you have an amazing quick bread! It is just perfect for breakfast or enjoy with a hot cup of tea whenever you need a little break.

If you enjoyed this Irish Soda Bread (Spotted Dog), you'll also love my Sicilian Orange Sweet Bread and Focaccia Bread-both delicious homemade breads that are wonderful served warm with coffee or alongside a meal.

Originally published March 17, 2013 and updated on March 7, 2020.

This Irish soda bread "spotted dog" is a rustic, lightly sweet Irish bread filled with raisins and baked until golden. It's one of the easiest breads you can make because it uses baking soda instead of yeast, which means there's no rising time.

I love making this Irish soda bread recipe around St. Patrick's Day or whenever I want a simple homemade bread for breakfast or tea. The outside forms a crisp crust while the inside stays soft and tender.

It's not often that I make things for St. Patrick's Day. It never crosses my mind to make green colored frosted cakes or green drinks. I do like to see the creations going around the web for this festive holiday. 

This is one of my favorite bread recipes and I thought it was a nice moment to share again here with all of you. I included  history of the Irish Soda Bread...feel free to jump to the recipe below if you are excited to get baking and skip that part!

Why This Irish Soda Bread Works

What I love about spotted dog Irish soda bread is how simple it is to make.

There's no kneading, no yeast, and no waiting for dough to rise. Everything comes together quickly in one bowl.

This recipe works beautifully because:

• Buttermilk reacts with baking soda to create lift
• The dough stays tender without heavy kneading
• Raisins add natural sweetness
• The crust becomes golden and slightly crisp

What's needed for this quick bread?

• buttermilk or plain yogurt (I used a cup of milk with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to make my own buttermilk...use your favorite nut milk and dairy free yogurt to make it vegan)
•  unbleached all-purpose flour
•  wheat bran (not bran cereal)or toasted wheat germ
• teaspoon baking soda
• salt
• stick unsalted butter (use vegan butter stick to make vegan)
• golden raisins (I also used some currants)

How to Make Irish Soda Bread "Spotted Dog"

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly sprinkle a baking sheet with flour or line it with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl whisk together the flour, bran, baking soda, and salt.
• Add the butter and toss to coat it with the flour mixture. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir in the raisins and toss to coat them in the flour.
• Add the buttermilk and stir until the dough is evenly moistened.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead gently for about 1 minute, adding a little flour if needed to prevent sticking. The dough should remain soft.
• Shape the dough into a round ball.
• Place it on the prepared baking sheet and gently pat it into a 6-inch round loaf.
• Lightly sprinkle the top with flour and spread it gently over the loaf with your fingertips.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a shallow X across the top of the dough.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 35-45 minutes, until the bread is golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and wrap the bread in a clean kitchen towel. Let it cool on a rack for 1 hour.
• Unwrap the bread and allow it to cool for another hour before slicing.

What are the origins of Irish Soda Bread?

I had to read a little about the origins of Irish Soda Bread. I found out there is even a Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread. The author of the article explains, "the Irish have made Soda Bread theirs.  Not by choice, but by a state of poverty that made it the easiest bread to put on the table." 

It was very interesting to read that in the journal Chemistry and Chemical Analysis by the Ireland Commissioners of National Education published in 1861 in Dublin the following appeared on page 319:

Although it is very desirable that bread should be light, it is not always possible to obtain yeast: - hence, what is called "soda bread" has been of late, very much used.  Its lightness is due to carbonic acid, disengaged from bicarbonate of soda.  The latter is mixed with the flour, and is decomposed by an acid -- sometimes, by that contained in sour milk, but more conveniently by dilute hydrochloric acid. 

This kind of bread, has not the advantage of its constituents being even slightly broken up, by incipient fermentation; nevertheless, it is said to have properties, which render it at least as wholesome as that which is made with yeast.

What is not included in a traditional Irish Soda Bread?

The author of the site includes this list of what does not constitute a traditional Irish Soda Bread?

A few absolutes:  Traditional Irish Soda Bread does not contain:

• "zest", orange or any other kind
• Irish Whiskey.  (talk about stereotyping!!!)
• Honey (substitute for sugar)
• Sugar (see definition of "cake")
• eggs (see definition of "cake")
• Garlic  (not common in English/Irish dishes)
• Shortening (hydrogenated vegetable oil - Crisco introduced to the US in 1911.  Not in the 19th century)
• Double Cream (British term for "Heavy Cream" but a little thicker.  Not much chance irish peasants would be using this.)
• Sour Cream (traditional in Eastern European dishes.  Became popular in the US and European kitchens during the past 50 years, not 150 years ago. see https://www.ochef.com/516.htm
• Yogurt (prior to 1900 a staple in Central Europe and Asia.  Introduced to the US after WWII by Isaac Carasso who started Dannon in NY City.  Not a 19th century Irish baking item.)
• Chocolate
• Chiles/Jalapenos (Right! Ireland is well known for using these in its traditional food!! por favor!
• Fruit (Only in Christmas/Easter cakes and other special occasions)

Why is this Irish bread called a spotted dog?

The basic soda bread is made with flour, baking soda, salt, and soured milk (or buttermilk).  So the bread I'm sharing that is called Irish Soda Bread in Gourmet 1994 is actually a Spotted Dog because of the addition of raisins. 

Some other quick bread and delicious holiday bread recipes you might enjoy:

• Gluten-Free Flax Seed Soda Bread
• Rye Soda Bread
• Casatiello
• Crescia al Formaggio-Italian Easter Cheese Bread
• Tsoureki-Greek Easter Bread

Do you have stories about Irish Soda Bread? Share them in the comment section…I'd love to hear them!

Frequently Asked Questions

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!  I am always pinning :)!

Some other quick bread and delicious holiday bread recipes you might enjoy:

• Gluten-Free Flax Seed Soda Bread
• Rye Soda Bread
• Casatiello
• Crescia al Formaggio-Italian Easter Cheese Bread
• Tsoureki-Greek Easter Bread

Happy Baking! xo Lora

To all my friends that celebrate, I wish you a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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5 from 5 vote

Irish Soda Bread-Spotted Dog

This traditional Irish Soda Bread requires no rising time and is so simple to put together. No kneading and no waiting…in no time you have an amazing quick bread! It is just perfect for breakfast or enjoy with a hot cup of tea whenever you need a little bread.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: Bread, quick bread, raisins

Calories: 471kcal

Author: Lora

Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus additional for sprinkling
• ¼ cup wheat bran not bran cerealor toasted wheat germ
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ stick ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 1 cup golden raisins I also used some currants
• 1 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt use your favorite nut milk or dairy free yogurt to make it vegan

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 F and sprinkle a baking sheet lightly with flour (or line a sheet with parchment paper).
• In a large bowl whisk together flour, bran, baking soda, and salt. Add butter and toss to coat with flour. With fingertips rub in butter until mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add raisins and toss until coated. Add buttermilk and stir until dough is moistened evenly.
• On a floured surface knead dough one minute, sprinkling lightly with additional flour to prevent sticking (dough should remain soft). Shape dough into a ball.
• On a prepared baking sheet pad dough out into a 6-inch round. Sprinkle round with additional flour and with fingertips spread lightly over round. With a sharp knife cut a shallow X on top of round.
• Bake bread in middle of oven 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Wrap bread in a kitchen towel  and cool on a rack one hour. Unwrap bread and cool one more hour.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Notes

Do not overwork the dough. Soda bread should be mixed gently or it can become dense.

Use cold butter. It helps create a more tender crumb.

Cut the traditional cross. In Irish baking tradition, the cross was said to “let the fairies out,” but it also helps the bread bake evenly.

Nutrition

Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 125g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 2275mg | Potassium: 1253mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 86g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 4mg

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