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 You’ll Love This Recipe
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!
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.
What You Need: 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 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 mixing bowl, stirring to evenly combine
- Create a well in the center, then pour in the buttermilk and vanilla
- 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
- 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 a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean
- Cool slightly, then slice 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
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 these Air Fryer Reuben Egg Rolls as a party appetizer!
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.
Should You Refrigerate Irish Soda Bread?
Irish soda bread is best kept in an airtight container or wrapping at room temperature, and not refrigerated.
Keeping it in the fridge will dry out your loaf.
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.
Recipe Pro Tips
- 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
Other Awesome Air Fryer Bread Recipes to Check Out
- Orange Almond Air Fryer Biscotti
- Herb and Garlic Air Fryer Croutons
- Air Fryer Focaccia Bread
- Air Fryer Blueberry Scones
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!
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.
Quick Air Fryer Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Equipment
- Cake, loaf, or 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
- 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 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 or lemon juice 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. Alternatively, add 1 Tbsp orange zest for a pop of citrus
- 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
- You do not need to flip the bread during cooking. The top will be browned and crisp, while the bottom should stay soft while being cooked through
- 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 Foodi Dual Zone air fryer with two smaller rectangular baskets, and have used mini loaf pans. Regardless of 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
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any substitutions, and total quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
- Strawberry Horchata Chai: Dutch Bros Copycat Recipe - April 20, 2024
- Microwave Refried Beans: Easy Mexican Style Side Dish! - April 18, 2024
- Air Fryer Crunchwrap Supreme: Taco Bell Copycat Recipe! - April 18, 2024
