I adore soda bread year round, but it’s also a festive treat for St. Patrick’s Day. It combines some of the more savory aspects of yeast bread with the fast, no rise, no knead method of quick bread. This dairy-free sweet Irish soda bread has a gently sweet flavor that allows it to work as both a dinner bread and a breakfast bread. It isn’t sugary, like your average quick bread, but it has more flavor and more moisture than traditional Irish soda bread.

Dairy-Free Sweet Irish Soda Bread with Warm Spices

This recipe is adapted from a sweet Irish soda bread recipe that was shared with us more than a decade ago. It was created by the chefs at McCormick – hence the flavorful spice and extract additions. We used a dairy-free trick for substituting the buttermilk in their recipe. Recently, we’ve updated our version, and have added some options in the FAQs below.

What Can I Serve this Sweet Irish Soda Bread with?

The light sweetness of this dairy-free sweet Irish soda bread still pairs nicely with meals. The spices go well with beef and cabbage or Irish stew, in particular. But I also like the bread on its own, slathered with some dairy-free butter. It’s nice with tea or coffee in the morning or afternoon. My husband also things it’s great with jam.

What are Caraway Seeds? Do I Have to Use Them?

Caraway seeds are a spice that’s somewhat similar to fennel, but with less of a licorice flavor. They are commonly found in rye bread and meat dishes, but have a warm, citrus influence that also pairs well with sweet spices, like cinnamon. If you don’t like caraway, you can omit it. But I recommend trying it at least once! You can find it in the spice section of most grocery stores.

What Type of Milk Alternative Should I Use? Does it Need to Curdle?

Your favorite plain or unsweetened milk beverage should work just fine. I like soy milk in recipes like this one, because it adds a little natural protein, which improves the texture. But oat milk, almond milk, or any other plant-based milk should work fine. Some might appear to “curdle” when added to the vinegar and some might not. Don’t worry either way. You aren’t really making buttermilk, so you don’t need it to curdle to work. And any lumps that form will whisk into the dough.

Can I Bake this Bread in a Loaf Pan?

If you only have loaf pans on hand, I would divide the loouse two 8×4-inch loaf pans. They might bake up more quickly, so I would begin checking at 30 minutes. If using loaf pans, you can also line them with parchment paper for easy removal of the loaves.

Can I Bake these as Irish Soda Muffins?

You can! The recipe makes great “just sweet enough” muffins, in my opinion, that are a bit like scones. Simply divide the batter between 12 greased muffin cups (or ungreased silicone baking cups), and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Does this Recipe Work at High Altitude?

I haven’t tested this specific recipe at high altitude, but I do have decades of experience with high altitude baking. Because it’s more of a free-form bread that isn’t overly moist, I think it will work fine without adjustments. But if baking above 6000 feet, I might reduce the baking powder to 1 teaspoon. And you might need to reduce the baking time a little. Moisture evaporates more quickly at high altitude, causing baked goods to dry out and brown faster. I would check in at 40 minutes.

Can I Make it Gluten Free?

We haven’t tested this dairy-free sweet Irish soda bread without gluten. I think it will work okay if you substitute your favorite gluten-free flour blend for baking, like King Arthur Measure for Measure, for the flour. Do not use a single flour or grain-free flour, like almond flour or coconut flour. These do not work as 1:1 substitutes for all-purpose flour in baking recipes.

Special Diet Notes: Sweet Irish Soda Bread

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, oil-free, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose a milk alternative that suits your dietary needs.

For egg-free and vegan sweet Irish Soda Bread, see our Egg Substitute Guide. Most egg replacers will work just fine. The bread might just be a touch crumblier, and it will likely have a thicker crust. You can also try my Brown Soda Bread Recipe, which is naturally egg-free and vegan.

adapted from McCormick