Vegan Irish Soda Bread

This soft and sweet vegan Irish soda bread recipe tastes exactly like my grandma’s Irish soda bread, with no eggs or dairy!

Traditional vegan Irish soda bread

When you grow up in an Irish family, St. Patrick’s Day is always a big event.

Every year on March 17th, my grandmother and mother would spend all morning in the kitchen, preparing a feast of corned beef and cabbage, roasted potatoes, carrots, and Irish soda bread.

Upon giving up eggs and dairy in high school, I discovered my grandmother’s Irish soda bread recipe was happily easy to veganize.

I simply used dairy free milk and swapped the eggs for applesauce.

The resulting vegan Irish soda bread is just as moist and delicious as the original, and it’s perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert!

Also try this vegan Cranberry Orange Bread

What is Irish soda bread?

Originating in Ireland, soda bread is a quick bread that employs baking soda as the leavening agent instead of yeast.

Traditional Irish soda bread calls for flour, eggs, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, and often raisins or currants.

The rustic texture falls somewhere between a quick bread and a soft scone.

This vegan version uses most of the same basic ingredients, meaning the taste and texture are almost identical to those of classic Irish soda bread recipes.

I may be biased, but I am convinced that this is the best vegan Irish soda bread recipe you will ever try!

Dairy free Irish soda bread ingredients

Flour – You can use all purpose white flour, whole grain spelt flour, whole wheat flour, or a combination.

For gluten free soda bread, opt for loosely packed all purpose gluten free flour.

Do not go with almond flour or coconut flour here, because the results may turn out dry and crumbly.

Raisins – While not required, I love including raisins or currants.

If you omit them, I recommend doubling the sugar in the recipe to make up for the difference in sweetness.

Or substitute chopped dried dates, figs, or another dried fruit of choice.

Sugar – Use white sugar or packed coconut sugar for a refined sugar free option.

Xylitol works for Irish soda bread with no sugar added.

I have not tried liquid sweeteners like pure maple syrup or agave, so I cannot vouch for the texture of a loaf made with either of these options.

Plant based yogurt – As a high protein vegan alternative to buttermilk, I like nondairy yogurt. Coconut yogurt, soy yogurt, or almond yogurt all work.

Vegan sour cream is a great option here as well.

Dairy free milk – Choose any plant based milk in your refrigerator, including soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.

Applesauce – My family’s original recipe calls for two eggs. To make a vegan Irish soda loaf, I use sweetened or unsweetened applesauce instead.

Baking soda – This is an important ingredient in yeast free quick breads, because it acts as a leavening agent and adds a slight tang.

Caraway seeds – Add caraway seeds for a fun texture and hint of licorice flavor.

If you cannot find caraway seeds, omit them or replace with fennel seeds.

Other ingredients – To make this homemade vegan bread, you also need baking powder, salt, and vegetable, olive, or coconut oil.

Irish soda bread with no oil

You may replace the oil with an equal amount of melted vegan butter.

Or substitute two additional tablespoons of dairy free yogurt, mashed banana, or applesauce instead. The texture of this low fat loaf is more dense and spongy.

I would not serve the oil free version to guests at a fancy brunch party. However, those who are used to fat free baked goods should not mind.

Recipe variations

Cranberry Orange: Replace the raisins with dried cranberries. Stir in the zest of one orange, and swap a third cup of the nondairy milk for orange juice.

Banana Bread: For Irish soda banana bread, add a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and replace all of the applesauce and half of the yogurt with ripe mashed banana.

Cheddar: Stir half a cup of shredded vegan cheese in with the dry ingredients. You can also stir in a handful of fresh chopped chives or nutritional yeast.

Herb: To create a wonderful savory Irish soda bread with herbs, add a teaspoon or two of dried rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, or a combination of these or other herbs.

Vegan Irish soda muffins: You may halve all of the ingredients in the recipe below and bake in a greased muffin tin for fifteen minutes or until cooked through.

Vegan soda bread recipe video

Above, watch the step by step video showing how to make the Irish quick bread.

How to make vegan Irish soda bread

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a nine inch round baking pan well, and set this pan aside.

Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, caraway seeds, and raisins or currants to a large mixing bowl. Stir very well.

Now add the vegan milk and yogurt, applesauce, and oil. Stir until just evenly mixed. To ensure the best texture, do not overmix.

Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth out the top of the loaf.

Place the pan on the center rack of the oven, and bake for forty minutes or until lightly golden brown in color. A toothpick inserted into the center of the vegan loaf should come out mostly clean.

Slice and enjoy hot, topped with vegan butter. Or cover leftovers loosely with a cloth towel for up to four days.

You may also freeze leftover slices in an airtight covered container for up to three months. Place a sheet of parchment paper in between layers of bread so they do not stick together. Thaw before serving.

Easy Vegan Bread Recipes

Chocolate Banana Bread

Strawberry Bread

Vegan Lemon Bread

Apple Bread

Vegan Cornbread

Carrot Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Peanut Butter Bread

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Banana Bread Donuts

Vegan Gingerbread