As a Jew, Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread recipes aren’t part of my culinary heritage, but then again, neither is pizza.
Still, I’m always up to the challenge of creating healthy low carb recipes, whatever their provenance.
Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread
Since there is such demand, I had to create the best recipe for Irish Soda Bread around.
One of my readers from Ireland gave this low carb Irish Soda Bread recipe ten stars.
And so many others agree with her. This healthy bread recipe is so popular that it’s been shared over twenty-five thousand times!
Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 2¾ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ cup raisins
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 pinch caraway seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and raisins
- In a small bowl combine eggs, honey, and apple cider vinegar
- Mix wet ingredients into dry
- Place dough on a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Form into a large flat circle around 8-inches across and 1½-inches tall
- Using a serrated knife, score top of dough ½-inch deep, in shape of a cross
- Sprinkle top of bread with caraway seeds
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, then turn off oven and leave bread in for 10 minutes
- Cool for 1 hour
- Serve
Equipment
What is Irish Soda Bread?
So, what exactly is Irish Soda Bread? According to Wikipedia:
Soda bread is a variety of quick bread in which bread soda (baking soda) is used as a raising agent rather than yeast…Other ingredients can be added such as raisins, egg or various forms of nuts.
History of Irish Soda Bread
Next, I had to learn the history of Irish soda bread, and its connection to St Patrick’s Day, or St. Paddy’s Day as it is often called.
The history of Irish Soda Bread begins in the 1830s when baking soda was first introduced to Ireland.
Gluten Free Quick Bread
Irish Soda Bread as we know it here in America, is essentially a quick bread made with inexpensive baking soda, instead of the more costly yeast.
Dairy Free Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Irish Soda Bread is typically made with buttermilk. Why is this?
The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to create a chemical reaction that makes the bread rise.
Irish Soda Bread without Buttermilk
In order to make a dairy free Irish Soda Bread I use apple cider vinegar rather than buttermilk, resulting in this recipe for Irish soda bread without buttermilk.
How to Make Irish Soda Bread
Since it’s a quick bread, this recipe is quite simple to throw together.
It’s also customizable when it comes to add-ins. You can make Irish Soda Bread with raisins, that’s how I make mine, or try walnuts, cranberries, and the like.
Irish Soda Bread Gluten Free Recipe
Pro tip? When it comes to the dough stick to the exact ingredients in the recipe.
Almond Flour Bread Recipe for St. Paddy’s Day
I just made a couple of batches of this easy almond flour bread recipe for friends and neighbors.
This reminded me how important it is to let the bread cool for the full hour listed. The perfect crumb forms as the bread cools.
Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread Recipe
This is a healthy recipe for bread with almond flour, which is how I make my Irish Soda Bread gluten-free.
Leave out the raisins (this removes 5g of carbs per serving) and it will be close to a 1:1 keto bread.
Keto Irish Soda Bread
If you want to make a Keto Irish Soda Bread you can experiment with using zero carb sweeteners.
I haven’t tried that, so if you do, please let me know if it works.
Keto Bread Recipe
For awesome low carb bread recipes without sweeteners, try my Blueberry Lemon Keto Bread or Keto Bread which is perfect for sandwiches.
How to Store Gluten-Free Bread
To store this gluten free Irish Soda bread, cool on the counter overnight, wrap in a paper towel, seal in a plastic bag, and refrigerate for up to one week.
Low-Carb Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day
If you’re looking for food for St. Patrick’s Day, I serve this classic St. Patrick’s Day Soda Bread along with my Green Eggs recipe.
My low carb Keto Mint Chip Smoothie is another healthy St. Paddy’s Day recipe that you’ll love!
Gluten-Free Bread Recipes
Here are some of my other easy low-carb gluten-free bread recipes. Did you know that every recipe on my site is gluten free? And all the recipes in my three cookbooks are too!
Pumpkin Bread Recipe Simple
My Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread is a paleo recipe that’s a cinch to make and absolutely delicious.
Didn’t think you could find pumpkin bread with almond flour? Guess again!
When you make this healthy pumpkin bread recipe, you’ll be blown away by the autumnal smell of magical spices and fresh healthy pumpkin bread wafting through your home.
Gluten Free Banana Bread Recipe Simple
This Gluten Free Banana Bread recipe that’s simple is one of my favorites, and it’s one of yours too!
Did you know this low carb banana bread recipe is one of the most popular on my website? It’s been shared over fifty thousand times!
I knew when I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1998 that I’d need to create a gluten free banana bread recipe for my family and this one is a winner!
Low Carb Paleo Bread with Almond Flour
My Paleo Bread recipe is just a bit lighter and fluffier than my other breads and has a wonderfully nutty flavor from the flax meal.
This low carb bread with almond flour has an amazing sweet buttery taste and is another one of my popular and versatile gluten free bread recipes.
Your Favorite Gluten-Free Bread Recipe
I’m taking requests. If you did not see your favorite low carb bread recipe here, leave a comment and let me know what you’re looking for!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first shared this Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread recipe in March 2011.
Gina Pivetz says
This was sooo delicious! I mixed some caraway seeds inside as well as sprinkled some on top because that’s how my fiancé and I like it. Sometimes Paleo baked recipes have an odd flavor, whether it’s bread or cake, but this was spot on and we couldn’t even tell the difference. We absolutely loved this! Perfect recipe! I can’t wait to make it on St. Paddy’s day and have my family taste it! :)
Carol says
I used 1 1/2 T ground chia seeds with 3 T of water as an egg substitute and maple syrup for sweetening. Very yummy!
Elana says
Thanks Carol!
Elana says
Gina, thanks for letting us know this recipe was perfect!
Kim says
Love this recipe! Have made it so many times as written, and it came out fantastic each time. Since having to go egg-free and low sugar recently, I now modify this recipe and leave off the caraway seeds, raisins, and substitute the eggs for 1/2 cup of natural applesauce, and sometimes I sub the 2 TB of honey for water and add a couple drops of vanilla stevia. I LOVE making waffles with these modifications, very yummy and I can enjoy waffles with the family again! The waffles are browned and hold their shape well, not 100% like wheat waffles but I enjoy them. I then take any extra dough I may not be using to make the waffles and use my cookie scoop and bake 15 minutes or so to make little crispy rounded “biscuits” that I eat with Soy-free margarine or my plain natural apple butter as a snack the next day. Yum! Thank you Elana!
Lori says
Hi Kim- do you make the waffles with the egg free version? They don’t stick? I have been desperately seeking an egg-free paleo waffle so I’d love your clarification on the modification.
Harry says
Hello,
Thanks for all of the fantastic recipies. I’m now 21, been gluten and dairy intolerant since I was 16. Now I’m limiting my grains and sugar intake to deal with candida fungus and hyper/hypoglycemia with mood swings. So great fun to have a bread recipe. It is on the counter cooling as I type. Just 2 questions. I followed the recipie exactly, but if I make it 8 inches across I can’t seem to get it 1 and a half inches tall. Also, it appears fine, except for the fact that it didn’t brown on top like yours. Wonder what went wrong. Any suggestions appreciated. So excited to try it, I wish it would cool faster.
Thanks again
Harry says
I just thought of something. Would maybe doing an egg wash on top help it to brown.
Thanks again
Elana says
Hi Harry,
What type of almond flour did you use, i.e. was it blanched almond flour, not almond meal, and also what brand? For the desired results use the ingredients and brands that are in green text in the ingredients portion of the recipe. Also, I think the egg wash could be a good idea :-)
Elana
reneepeyton says
I made this for St. Patrick’s day dinner this year. It was perfect and is in SPD repertoire.
Elana says
Renee, so great to hear this was perfect!
Deborah De Groot says
Just made it!! yummmmmmmmmmmm…..needs more raisins though haha
Elana says
Deborah, thanks for letting us know you enjoyed this!
Sharon Maslow says
Hi, thanks for this recipe as I was just feeling sad I would’t be having it this year! I am asking about the “blanched” almond flour. Is this different than regular and could I blanch it myself? How important is the “blanching?” Thanks so much!
Janet says
Yes. Blanched almond flour is a finer grade. The skin of the almonds are removed prior to the nuts being ground up and turned into flour.
Elana says
Sharon, for more on almond flour please see this write up:
https://elanaspantry.com/ingredients/almond-flour/
Enjoy!
Elana
Ruth says
Used this exact recipe, exactly as written, except in a regular (large, 6 to a pan) donut pan. This was suggested over on Elena’s bagel recipe page for something that has the density closer to that of a bagel. It worked great! And I didn’t even have to boil it. (Although, I still might try that sometime after baking it for 10 minutes to give the bagels structure.)
Elana says
Ruth, so glad to hear this was great!
andrea says
Just made this recipe. I am no expert baker, so I followed the recipe exactly. It worked great!
Elana says
Andrea, thanks for letting us know this was great :-0
Nadine says
Just made this and it’s good! I sliced it up and froze the slices. It’s a bit on the sweet side so I defrosted a couple of slices, buttered each side and fried it in a pan a bit and it’s (kinda sorta) like French Toast! Threw a little fruit on top and added a teeny tiny bit of syrup and my French Toast cravings were satisfied! :-D
Elana says
Thanks Nadine! So glad you liked it :-)
Jenny Siegel says
I have made this recipe twice, leaving out the caraway and using cranberries instead of raisins. It is delicious! I love this recipe!
Elana says
Jenny, so glad to hear you loved this recipe!