Easy Mini Irish Soda Bread
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These Mini Irish Soda Breads are small, individual loaves with a tender crumb and golden crust-sweetened with raisins and rich with buttermilk. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day breakfasts, teatime, or serving alongside soups and stews.
See this Irish Afternoon Tea post for more small-bite, Irish-inspired recipes like Irish Custard Tarts.
What I Love About This Recipe
Traditional Irish Soda Bread is, like all "authentic" recipes, evolving over generations. Their ingredients are often carefully guarded family secrets. Those fortunate few whose family recipes survive migrations over ocean and land become generational treasures. Faded handwritten index cards that connect us to our familial past.
While many of my family's ancestral lines lead to Ireland, including through my O'Hara line, I don't have any faded and frayed family recipes for Irish Soda Bread. If only for one more chance to write down these oral recipes.
But the trials of discovering my favorite Irish soda bread recipe is a delicious journey my family wholeheartedly supports. I'm smiling because it doesn't take any of them long to migrate to the kitchen when that oh-so-distinctive aroma begins floating through the house.
This Mini Irish Soda Bread recipe has made it to my card file -- with a wholehearted endorsement for future generations. It's delicious and perfect for individual portions on holidays or on any day when one needs a little Irish comfort.
Jump to:
Traditional Irish Soda Bread
In case you're looking for a more "traditional" Irish Soda bread, you'll want to see our recipes for Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Raisins, a family favorite, and this Traditional Brown Irish Soda Bread.
You might also like to take a look at our St. Patrick's Day recipe collection or this Irish recipe collection, including Irish Pub Foods, for traditional dishes inspired by the Emerald Isle.
Key Pantry Ingredients
These mini Irish soda breads come together with simple pantry ingredients you may already have on hand.
- All-purpose flour - The base of the bread, providing structure while keeping the texture tender and biscuit-like.
- Baking powder - Helps give the small soda breads extra lift so they bake up light instead of dense.
- Baking soda - The traditional leavening used in Irish soda bread. It reacts with the acidity of the buttermilk to help the bread rise.
- Granulated sugar - Adds a touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the raisins.
- Butter - Adds richness and creates a soft, tender crumb.
- Raisins - A classic addition to soda bread, adding sweetness and texture. (You can also substitute currants if you prefer.)
- Buttermilk - The key ingredient in traditional Irish soda bread. Its acidity activates the baking soda and gives the bread its signature flavor and tender crumb.
How to Make Mini Irish Soda Bread
Much like a "traditional" Irish Soda bread, this dough comes together quickly and easily. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. You can use your fingers or a pastry cutter. Add the raisins and then make a well in the center.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the buttermilk. Combine the ingredients until there are no dry pockets of flour.
- Portion the dough into 9 mounds, each about ½ cup. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 20 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
These Mini Irish Soda Breads are delicious served warm with softened butter and a drizzle of honey or jam. Because they're individually sized, they're perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or alongside a cozy bowl of soup.
They're especially lovely as part of a St. Patrick's Day meal, served with dishes like traditional Irish Stew or a hearty bowl of Corned Beef and Cabbage.
You can also slice them in half and toast them lightly the next day for a simple breakfast treat.
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Easy Mini Irish Soda Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
- 1 cup raisins
- 1-1 ¼ cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. You can use your fingers or a pastry cutter. Add the raisins and then make a well in the center.
- Pour 1 cup of buttermilk into the well in the center of the flour mixture. Using a fork or your hands, combine the ingredients just until the dough begins to come together. Add additional buttermilk if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and gently knead until it fully comes together.
- Divide the dough into 9 mounds of about ½ cup each. Transfer the dough to the parchment-lined baking sheet, cut a cross in the top, and brush each a drizzle of buttermilk.
- Bake until slightly risen and golden brown; 20 to 22 minutes. For me, I can't imagine Irish Soda Bread without a drizzle of the finest honey I can find. It's such a treat! Serve warm or room temperature. And... they freeze exceptionally well too.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
More Soda Bread Recipes to Try
- Traditional Irish Stew Recipe
- Festive St. Patrick's Day Desserts (Irish & Easy Holiday Treats)
- Authentic Traditional Dublin Coddle: A Classic Irish Sausage Stew
- Spotted Dog: The Story of Ireland's Traditional Railway Cake
If you try this recipe, I'd love to hear your comments and consider giving it a 5-star rating. Explore the recipe index for more easy, delicious ideas, and stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
Love this and will make with some cranberries I have on hand. Can I use self-rising flour? If so, will it be the same amount of flour? I don’t bake often so I tend to just keep a small bag of self-rising in the house. Thank you
Hi Cheryl! I’ve not tried it with cranberries - but I love the sound of it! The self rising flour should be fine, just be sure to eliminate both the baking soda and baking powder in the recipe as the flour already contains the leavening agent. I would love to hear how you like them with cranberries ☘️
This is delicious. Has anyone tried making in muffin cups? I need to make Irish soda bread for an event and think muffins would be best.
Hi Emily. Irish Soda Bread muffins are delicious and great for events. Here is a recipe you might want to take a look at: https://www.31daily.com/irish-soda-bread-muffins/ .
They are simple to make and delicious.
These mini Irish soda breads were so easy to make and delicious. This recipe is a keeper!
I made a gluten-free version with Cup 4 Cup flour. They turned out delicious. Thank you so much.
That is so awesome! Thank you so much for letting us know how they turned out with gluten-free flour and how much you used. I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Your recipe states 1/2 c of butter. Which is one stick of butter. I didn’t see your comments until I put the bread in the oven. Hope it still turns out. Which is the correct amount?
Hi Cindy, it is a 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick). Hope you like it!!
The oven is preheated to 375°, but recipe says to bake them at 400°. Which temperature is correct.?
Thank you! It should be 375 degrees, I've updated the directions.
Do you know how long these can be frozen?
Hi Kim, they can be frozen 3 to 6 months, but I like them best around 3 months.
1/2 stick? 1/2 a cup or 1/4 cup butter?
Hi Becky - it is 1/2 cup of butter.
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of butter…so, still not corrected.
Hi Mel,
On my computer, it shows that it was updated. Just to clarify, it is 1/2 cup of butter.
Perfect for a St. Pat’s Day family meal. Divide dough in half and put raisins, currents and/ or little pieces of green candied cherries in some and leave others plain for the “no raisins” kids. Serve with Guinness Irish stew and some green iced brownies. Everyone is happy! Thanks for the mini-bread idea, yum!
Perfect for a St. Pat’s Day family meal. Divide dough in half and put raisins, currents and/ or little pieces of green candied cherries in some and leave others plain for the “no raisins” kids. Serve with Guinness Irish stew and some green iced brownies. Everyone is happy! Thanks for the mini-bread idea, yum!
Making this soon. I would like to know how many this makes. Is it just the one soda bread or is it multiple
Hi Jack! This recipe will make about 9 mini Irish Soda Breads.