Soda Bread

Guide Note

Soda bread is a quick bread which is leavened with baking soda. It is traditionally made with only four ingredients: buttermilk or sour milk, flour, salt and baking soda.

Fast Facts

1. 1824: First published recipe
2. Most common variety: Irish soda bread
3. Uses baking soda instead of yeast
4. "Damper": Australian name
5. Spotted Dog: Soda bread with raisins

Though soda bread is often linked with the Irish, it appears it was invented by Native Americans, who used soda ash to leaven their bread. Bicarbonate of soda, commonly known as baking soda, did not come to Ireland until the 1840s, and soda bread likely came shortly thereafter.

1. Usually round with cross on top
2. Baked in dutch oven or on a griddle
3. Cross: not religious; made it easy to quarter
4. Northern Ireland: triangle-shaped
5. Farls: Soda bread triangles