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    You are here: Home | Recipes | Breads

    Vegan Irish Soda Bread (Soda Farls!)

    Sep 20, 2022 by Faith VanderMolen

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Made with just 5 ingredients, this Vegan Irish Soda Bread Recipe is the perfect way to get a hearty, delicious bread on the table in minutes!

    thick vegan Irish soda farls or soda bread cooking on a skillet

    There is nothing better than homemade bread.

    The smell, the taste, the texture...it just can't be beat!

    While we love my No-Knead Whole Wheat Vegan Sandwich Bread and this 4 Ingredient Artisan Bread, sometimes, I don't have the time to whip up a yeasted bread recipe.

    That's why I love this simple Vegan Irish Soda Bread recipe!

    This soda bread, or soda farl recipe, doesn't require any yeast or rise time and only requires 5 ingredients and a few minutes to cook on each side.

    From start to finish you can have fresh, Irish soda bread on the table in less than 25 minutes!

    Jump To
    • Why is soda bread called soda bread?
    • Is sourdough the same as soda bread?
    • Soda farls vs. soda bread
    • How to Make Irish Soda Farls (with Step-by-Step Instructions)
    • How to make vegan Irish soda bread
    • What do you eat soda bread with?
    • How long does soda bread keep?
    • 📖 Recipe

    fluffy vegan Irish soda farls stacked on each other

    Why is soda bread called soda bread?

    Soda bread is a type of quick bread that uses baking soda instead of yeast as a rising agent. Traditionally, soda bread only requires 4 ingredients: flour, baking soda, buttermilk and salt, but other ingredients can be added including dried fruit, eggs, butter or nuts. The buttermilk in the batter reacts with the baking soda, creating tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide which causes the bread to rise. Soda bread is a great beginner recipe as it doesn't require much experience or take long to prepare.

    Is sourdough the same as soda bread?

    Both sourdough and soda bread are similar in that they contain lactic acid. However, the source of their lactic acid is different. Sourdough gets its lactic acid from yeast, while soda bread gets it from buttermilk. Soda bread is more mild in flavor and is closer to a biscuit in texture. Sourdough is more sour and has a chewy, moist texture.

    While I LOVE sourdough, it is more time consuming to make than soda bread, which takes only a few minutes to prepare. Thankfully they are both delicious!

    Soda farls vs. soda bread

    4 vegan Irish soda farls cooking on a hot skillet until golden brown

    You may have heard of something called soda farls and wondered if they were the same thing as soda bread. Yes, soda farls are soda bread with just a few minor differences. Soda farls simply refers to soda bread that has been flattened, cut into quadrants or fourths (farls!) and cooked on a griddle or skillet. Soda bread is usually kept in one large loaf, scored on the top with a knife and baked in the oven.

    How to Make Irish Soda Farls (with Step-by-Step Instructions)

    The type of soda bread I'm showing you how to make today is called soda farls. If you're looking for a quick, beginner bread recipe, start with soda farls! This recipe only requires four ingredients and cooks quickly on a skillet. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below!

    • Step 1: Create buttermilk by whisking together the vinegar and non-dairy milk. Set it aside.
    • Step 2: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, including the flour, baking soda and salt.
    • Step 3: Next add in your buttermilk a little at a time until a thick, dough forms.
    homemade vegan buttermilk being poured into a bowl of flour to make irish soda bread
    soda bread dough being formed in a mixing bowl
    • Step 4: Heat a skillet over medium/low heat and dust the skillet with a little flour to keep the bread from sticking.
    • Step 5: Knead the dough slightly before flattening it into a circle with a rolling pin or your hands. Cut the circle into quarters for more traditional farls or 8ths for smaller pieces of bread.
    Soda bread dough cut into fourths to make soda farls
    • Step 6: Cook the segments on the skillet for 5-10 minutes on each side, depending on the temperature of your pan. You want the outsides to be golden and the middle to be cooked through. You can always use a skewer to check the center! If the outside is getting too brown/burnt, turn down the heat so that the center can cook through.
    soda bread being cooked on a skilled to make soda farls
    soda farls being cooked on a skilled until golden brown on the outside
    • Step 7: Cut the soda bread or farls in half and serve warm with non-dairy butter, jam or a bowl of soup!
    vegan irish soda bread cut in half being smeared with butter

    How to make vegan Irish soda bread

    Vegan soda bread is as easy to make as regular soda bread. You simply need to make homemade, dairy-free buttermilk. To do this, sour some non-dairy milk by whisking an acid into it. You'll need about 1 tablespoon of acid to 1 cup on non-dairy milk. I like to use apple cider vinegar as my acid and soy milk as my non-dairy milk.

    What do you eat soda bread with?

    Irish soda bread smeared with peanut butter and jelly

    Think of soda bread as any other kind of bread. I love to cut my soda farl in half, toast it and smear it with peanut butter and jelly for a classic American flavor. It tastes fantastic with butter or cream cheese as well. Because it's a heartier bread, it also works perfectly dipped in a soup or stew.

    How long does soda bread keep?

    Soda bread tends to dry out quickly. It tastes best when eaten warm right after being removed from the oven or skillet. However, if you need to store it for a little bit, it's best to wrap it up or store it in an airtight container for only 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for 2-3 months!

    I really hope you give this delicious and simple vegan soda bread recipe a try. If you do, please leave a comment down below or take a picture and tag #theconscientiouseater on Instagram so I can see your creation!

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan Irish Soda Farls

    Faith VanderMolen
    Made with just 5 ingredients, this Vegan Irish Soda Bread Recipe is the perfect way to get a hearty, delicious bread on the table in minutes!
    4.70 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Breads
    Cuisine Irish
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 170 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk
    • 2 cups flour I use half white and half wheat
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda

    Instructions 

    • Preheat a skillet on medium to low heat.
    • Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a 1 cup measuring cup and then fill the rest of the cup up with non-dairy milk. Stir carefully and then allow the milk to curdle for about 5 minutes while you prepare the dry ingredients.
    • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
    • Sift in the baking soda.
    • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and and pour in the prepared buttermilk.
    • Working quickly, mix the wet and dry ingredients together and knead very lightly until a dough forms.
    • Pour the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a circle about ½ inch thick.
    • Cut the circle into 4ths.
    • Sprinkle a little flour over the base of the hot pan and cook the farls for 6 to 8 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

    Video

    Notes

    Veganized from All Recipes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1farlCalories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 5gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 397mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 155IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out the similar bread recipes below!

    • 4 Ingredient Vegan Artisan Bread
    • Traditional Irish Brown Bread
    • Easy Vegan Pizza Bread
    • No-Knead Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

    More Breads

    • Sourdough Pumpkin Bread (Vegan!)
    • Vegan Sourdough Bread (Beginner-Friendly!)
    • Sourdough Banana Bread
    • Vegan Sourdough Pancakes (6 Ingredients!)


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    Comments

    1. Alocasia says

      March 16, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      Can't wait to try this. We'll be having it tomorrow. My question, I'll be using 1 cup whole wheat flour. Can I substitute a different flour other than white for the other cup, maybe whole wheat pastry, spelt, oat, chickpea, cassava? I have all kinds of flour but no white. 🙂

      Reply
      • Faith VanderMolen says

        March 18, 2021 at 2:36 pm

        Sorry for my late response! I think whole wheat pastry or spelt should definitely work. Did you already make the soda bread? Which flour did you use and how did they turn out?

        Reply
    2. Linda Enfield says

      August 01, 2019 at 11:39 am

      5 stars
      Hi Faith,
      Lovely recipe and came out perfect! So sorry to hear about your Grandfather, may he rest in peace xxx

      Reply
      • Faith says

        August 02, 2019 at 2:59 am

        So glad this recipe worked out for you Linda! I need to remember to make these when I need bread in a pinch. Thanks so much for commenting!

        Reply
    3. Rosemary says

      January 20, 2019 at 9:39 pm

      Lovely recipe but please please please it is not St Pattys Day, it never was it never will be. You will never find an Irish person calling it Patty, It is St Patrick's day or St PADDY'S Day. Please stop changing the name of our national saint's day. Thank You

      Reply
      • Faith says

        January 21, 2019 at 9:07 pm

        Thanks for correcting me Rosemary! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    4. Cora says

      March 15, 2017 at 10:01 am

      I'm sorry for your Loss, Faith. He sounds fabulous and will be very missed, I know. <3

      Reply
      • Faith says

        March 16, 2017 at 1:05 am

        Thanks so much Cora. The grief was intense at first, but I'm feeling better. Thanks so much for commenting!

        Reply
    5. Sarah says

      March 14, 2017 at 6:28 pm

      These look amazing!!!! Any chance you have ideas on how they could be made gluten free?

      Reply
      • Faith says

        March 15, 2017 at 5:50 am

        Hi Sarah! I would recommend using gluten-free all purpose flour (Bob's Red Mill for example) as I've found it to substitute one for one pretty well and not be too crumbly. Please let me know what you end up trying and whether or not it works out for you!

        Reply
    6. Franziska says

      March 14, 2017 at 1:48 pm

      Hey Faith,

      I've been thinking a lot about the fact that I feel so familiar to you and some of the other bloggers I read without you actually knowing anything about me... Well, today I'm writing. My grandpa passed away on Sunday (same day as yours?). Grandma and him were married 60 years last year. He loved o travel and socialize...
      I wish you and your family lots of strength and that you can be there for each other much as the distance allows it. I wish your grammie braveness to keep going.

      Yours,
      Franziska

      Reply
      • Faith says

        March 15, 2017 at 5:48 am

        Franziska, wow. Thank you so much for writing. I'm so sorry to hear your Grandpa passed away too. That must be so hard. I wish you the same, strength and joy during this hard season. Take the time you need to grieve! I definitely did and it has helped me so much. Thank you again for writing!

        Reply
    7. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says

      March 14, 2017 at 12:00 am

      I am so sorry for your loss. Your grandpa sounds like an amazing man. Thinking of you!

      Reply
      • Faith says

        March 14, 2017 at 2:38 am

        Thanks so much Laura! You're so sweet to comment! I appreciate you:)

        Reply
    8. Annemaria Lee says

      March 13, 2017 at 10:42 pm

      So sorry for your loss, Faith. He sounds like a man who blessed many with his presence.

      Reply
      • Faith says

        March 13, 2017 at 10:58 pm

        Thank you so much Annemarie. It's so encouraging to hear from you. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

        Reply
    4.70 from 20 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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