You don’t need the luck of the Irish to make some great bread! That’s right, this quick air fryer Irish soda bread recipe makes baking up a loaf for your St. Patty’s day feast so easy. You don’t even need to be a great baker to make this dependable loaf turn out perfect!
Why Make Soda Bread in the Air Fryer
Irish soda bread is a quick bread, meaning it doesn’t take yeast or need to be left to rise. That makes it much easier to work with, especially if you’re new to baking! Aside from that, it’s also quick to cook in your air fryer, coming in around 30 minutes or less of baking time.
That’s faster than a regular oven, and won’t heat up the whole kitchen to boot! While you can definitely bake it in one loaf (round is traditional), it’s simple to split it into two smaller loaves, which I do as I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer with two compartments.
I also love soda bread because you can adjust it to your own favorites. Try it with raisins, cranberries, or no fruit at all. Have a love-hate relationship with caraway seeds? Me too! Use them or lose them, it doesn’t matter at all.
Quick + Easy Recipes
straight to your inbox
Air Fryer Irish Soda Bread Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup raisins
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp salt (or to taste)
special equipment note:
You’ll need to put your bread on something in the air fryer. A cake pan, loaf pan, springform pan, or a piece of parchment paper will work.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1 Tbsp white vinegar to a measuring cup, then top it off with regular milk to the 1 cup line. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes to make buttermilk
- Raisins may be swapped for golden raisins, currants, or cranberries, or omitted if preferred
- If your raisins are dried out and hard, soak them in the buttermilk for 15 minutes to soften them, then just add them in when you add the buttermilk
- The brown sugar may be substituted by white granulated sugar. Feel free to add up to 2 Tbsp more if you want a sweeter loaf
- For a more savory option, omit the cinnamon and vanilla and add caraway seeds instead
How to Make Soda Bread in the Air Fryer
- Combine all dry ingredients and raisins in a large bowl, stirring to evenly combine
- Create a well in the center of the flour mixture, then pour in the buttermilk and vanilla
- Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until it creates a shaggy dough
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface
- Knead the dough for about 3-5 minutes, or just until it binds together and becomes a singular loaf
- Using your hands, shape the bread dough into a round or oval (depending on the shape of your air fryer) loaf. If needed, the dough may be divided into two smaller loaves
- Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (or 325°F, depending on your air fryer’s available settings)
- Place the loaf of bread into a greased cake pan, springform pan, loaf pan, or on a piece of parchment paper cut to fit into your air fryer basket
- Pat the top of the bread down so it isn’t mounded. Then, cut an ‘X’ shape about ½” deep into the top with a sharp knife
- Add your bread to the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook on the air fry setting at 320°F for 30 minutes for a single loaf, or 20 minutes for two smaller loaves
- Add additional cooking time in 5-minute increments as needed, until crust is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean
- Cool slightly, then slice (use a serrated knife) and enjoy!
What to Serve With Soda Bread
- Butter
- Jam
- Cheese
- Beef stew
- Corned beef
- Soups
- Sauerkraut or braised cabbage
- Marmalade or citrus curds
- Sandwich toppings
- Applesauce or apple butter
Serve with my tangy Microwave Red Cabbage or sweet Microwave Applesauce.
Alternatively, use your leftover soda bread as your sandwich bread for these Air Fryer Reuben Sandwiches, or as toast alongside your Air Fryer Canned Corned Beef Hash.
I also love to serve soda bread with my Air Fryer Reuben Egg Rolls as a party appetizer or with sweet jam alongside some Irish Whiskey Bread Pudding for dessert!
Recipe FAQs
Can You Make Soda Bread in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can make soda bread in an air fryer.
In fact, it’s faster than the traditional oven baking method.
What Temperature Should Soda Bread Be Cooked At in the Air Fryer?
It is most common to cook soda bread at 320℉ or 325℉ in the air fryer.
At temperatures higher than that, the bread will over brown before the center is fully cooked.
How Long to Bake Soda Bread in Air Fryer?
Typically, it takes about 20-30 minutes to bake soda bread in the air fryer. This can vary based on the size of the loaf and the air fryer itself.
Stick a toothpick in the center of the loaf to check it. When it comes out clean, the loaf is baked.
How Do You Toast Irish Soda Bread?
To toast Irish soda bread, first cut it into slices about 1” thick. Then, you can coat it with butter and toast it in a pan on the stove. Alternatively, place it without butter into a toaster or toaster oven set to the desired browning level.
For air fryer toasting, place the slice in your air fryer basket and cook for 3-5 minutes at 370℉, or until the desired level of browning.
Is There a Difference Between Soda Bread and Irish Soda Bread?
Yes and no. Irish soda bread is still soda bread, but it is usually a more simple recipe consisting of just wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.
Other versions of soda bread internationally have been influenced by different cultures, adding variations. For example, American soda bread is usually made with white flour, is slightly sweeter, and raisins or caraway seeds are common additions.
Recipe Pro Tips For the Best Air Fryer Irish Soda Bread
- You do not need to flip the bread during cooking. It will still cook evenly without it
- Try not to over knead the dough, stop when it’s workable. Over kneading will result in a hard bread loaf
- The dough is going to rise during cooking. This is why you want to pat the dough flat. You may need to remove extra racks (if you have multiple) in your air fryer to give the bread enough room
- Traditionally, Irish soda bread is a round loaf. However, I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer with two smaller rectangular baskets, and have used mini loaf pans. Despite the different shape, it will still taste great!
- My soda bread loaves were perfectly done after 20 minutes at 325℉ in the Ninja air fryer. Other models and sizes will of course vary slightly
- The cross in the top of the bread, while originally added for religious reasons, is actually nowadays used for releasing steam during cooking
Irish Soda Bread Storage and Reheating Tips
- Store Irish soda bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. It may also be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, but you’ll want to heat it before eating or else it will be tough (and it will dry out a bit as well). For longer term storage, wrap well and freeze up to 3 months
- To reheat soda bread, you can air fry a slice at 325°F for about 2-3 min, until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave for about 30 seconds (though the edges of the bread will no longer be crunchy this way)
- Air Fryer Focaccia Bread
- Pillsbury Banana Bread in the Air Fryer
- Zucchini Bread in the Air Fryer
Final Thoughts
This quick and easy air fryer Irish soda bread is perfect for your St Patrick’s Day meal! However, I love it any time of year. This versatile bread is simple to make and easily swings between sweet and savory profiles.
Toast and butter your slices for breakfast, or make a classic Reuben or pastrami sandwich using this soda bread instead of plain sandwich bread! Soda bread had a mild and tangy flavor similar to sourdough, but with less work, and a softer crumb texture overall.
It’s also perfect alongside a hearty soup or stew, which is always a favorite when it’s chilly out. Cozy right up alongside a bowl of Air Fryer Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.
Air Fryer Irish Soda Bread Recipe (Without Yeast)
Equipment
- Cake pan (or a loaf pan, springform pan, or parchment paper trimmed to fit in air fryer)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup raisins
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Combine all dry ingredients and raisins in a large mixing bowl, stirring to evenly combine2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ cup raisins, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, ¾ tsp salt
- Create a well in the center, then pour in the buttermilk and vanilla1 cup buttermilk, ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Mix with a spoon or spatula until it creates a shaggy dough
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface
- Knead the dough for about 3-5 minutes, or just until it binds together and becomes a singular loaf (do not over knead or it will be tough)
- Using your hands, shape the bread dough into a round or oval (depending on the shape of your air fryer) loaf. If needed, the dough may be divided into two smaller loaves
- Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (or 325°F, depending on your air fryer’s available settings)
- Place the loaf of bread into a greased cake pan, springform pan, loaf pan, or on a piece of parchment paper cut to fit into your air fryer basket
- Pat the top of the bread down so it isn’t mounded. Then, cut an ‘X’ shape about ½” deep into the top with a sharp knife
- Add your bread to the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook on the air fry setting at 320°F for 30 minutes for a single loaf, or 20 minutes for two smaller loaves (no need to flip during cooking)
- Add additional cooking time in 5-minute increments as needed, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean
- Cool slightly, then slice and enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1 Tbsp white vinegar to a measuring cup, then top it off with regular milk to the 1 cup line. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes to make buttermilk
- Raisins may be swapped for golden raisins or cranberries, or omitted if preferred
- If your raisins are dried out and hard, soak them in the buttermilk for 15 minutes to soften them, then just add them in when you add the buttermilk
- The brown sugar may be substituted by white granulated sugar. Feel free to add up to 2 Tbsp more if you want a sweeter loaf
- For a more savory option, omit the cinnamon and vanilla and add caraway seeds instead
- Traditionally, Irish soda bread is a round loaf. However, I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer with two smaller rectangular baskets, and have used mini loaf pans. Despite the different shape, it will still taste great!
- My soda bread loaves were perfectly done after 20 minutes at 325℉ in the Ninja air fryer. Other models and sizes will of course vary slightly
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any substitutions, and total quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
