Soda Bread without Buttermilk

This dairy free soda bread is made without buttermilk but tastes just like regular soda bread!

In this recipe, you'll be making a dairy free buttermilk alternative to create that classic tangy flavor.

Irish soda bread is called "soda bread" because it uses baking soda as a leavening agent instead of the traditional yeast.

Buttermilk or sour milk are called for to make soda bread because they contain lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide.

This makes the bread fluffy despite its lack of yeast. This is also why buttermilk is often called for in biscuits to make buttermilk biscuits.

Since this soda bread is made without buttermilk, as part of the instructions you make a dairy free buttermilk substitute to react the same way.

I use a full fat neutral flavored oat milk to make buttermilk, because I find it the most similar to regular milk.

However, you can make your buttermilk with almond milk or even soy milk.

I use this same technique to make my buttermilk biscuits without buttermilk and it works like a charm.

Irish soda bread is often made with raisins, but since no one in my family likes raisins, I leave them out. They are still placed as an option in the recipe, though.

History of Irish Soda Bread

Traditional Irish bread was historically cooked on a griddle as flatbread.

This is because the domestic flour was not able to rise effectively with yeast.

When baking soda was developed in the mid-1800s, it allowed for fluffy alternative, in the form of quick bread.

The name "Soda Bread" actually comes from the fact that it used baking soda as its leavener.

Over time, soda bread's popularity declined when imported high-gluten flours became available. 

Soda bread eventually regained popularity and modern varieties can be found at Irish cafes and bakeries

However, the traditional sweetened version with raisins, like this one, is rarely seen in Ireland anymore.

In fact, it is probably more popular in America thanks to the Irish who brought this bread with them when they made their new home in places like New York and Boston.

QUICK BREADS VS YEAST BREADS

Yeast breads are breads made using yeast, such as white bread and dinner rolls. Basically, it's what you think of when you hear the word "bread".

Quick breads, which originated in the United States, are breads that are leavened with baking soda or baking powder instead of yeast. This allows them to be prepared quickly in comparison to the time it takes to make breads made with yeast.

Irish soda bread and biscuits are two examples of quick breads.

However, banana bread, cornbread, and pumpkin bread are also quick breads, even though they seem more like somewhat dense cakes.

Even more surprisingly, muffins, like blueberry muffins and banana muffins, are also a type of quick bread.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUICK BREAD AND CAKE

Quick breads are denser than cake and usually require less sugar.

FLOUR Used For Quick Bread

Even though "bread" is in the name, quick breads should not be made with bread flour.

Bread flour has a higher protein content than all-purpose, which helps with gluten development. This creates a chewy texture and a heavier, denser bread.

These are not qualities you want from your quick bread.

You could use cake flour, but generally, all-purpose flour is used.

BREAD FLOUR VS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

Bread flour has a higher protein content than all-purpose, which helps with gluten development.

This creates a chewy texture and heavier and denser bread. This can be great in recipes like bread bowls. However, it is less desirable in breads like challah bread, which you want to be light and fluffy.

All-purpose flour has a lower protein content, but can generally be substituted for bread flour.

Can I use whole wheat flour instead?

Generally, if you want to use whole wheat flour in bread, it's recommended to replace up to half of the all-purpose flour called for with whole wheat flour.

BAKING WITH OIL

Baking with oil produces a moister and tenderer texture compared to that of baked goods made with butter.

Cakes, cupcakes, muffins, and quick breads also tend to bake up taller with a better crumb and stay moist and tender much longer than recipes made with butter.

Also, since oil weighs less than butter, baked goods made with oil have a lighter texture than those made with butter.

In addition, butter is usually only 80% fat, whereas oil is 100% fat. As a result, the water that's present in butter strengthens the gluten in the flour, making it more dense and less tender than baked goods made with oil.

Oil is often used in recipes where a lighter and airier texture is desired or in recipes that call for both oil and butter, in order to have the benefits of oil while keeping the butter flavor.

Which Type Of Oil to Use

I use neutral oils like canola oil, safflower oil, and vegetable oil. You can also use stronger oils like olive oil and coconut oil, but they may change the taste somewhat.

Is it better to use canola oil or olive oil?

Canola oil is relatively cheap and, due to its lack of flavor and high smoke point, is very versatile.

Olive oil, on the other hand, is healthier. Also, its stronger flavor makes it preferable in recipes such as focaccia, which require its distinct taste.

Baking with Oil Conversion Chart

If you want to convert your butter recipes to oil recipes, take a look at my baking with oil - butter to oil conversion chart.

How to store Oil

Store oils in a cool, dark place to prevent them from becoming rancid.

If refrigerated, some oils, like olive oil, may solidify, but will return to a liquid state at room temperature.

Coconut oil begins to solidify in temperatures under 76ºF or 25ºC.

BAKING SODA VS BAKING POWDER

Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents, which means that they help baked goods rise. However, they're not the same thing and they are not interchangeable.

Using baking soda instead of baking powder can give your recipe a terrible metallic taste, while using baking powder instead of baking soda leaves your baked goods looking flat.

BAKING SODA

When baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) is combined with acidic ingredients and exposed to heat, it causes batter or dough rise and contributes to their light and fluffy texture.

However, baking soda is a versatile ingredient. It can be sprinkled over meat to tenderize it and it can be added to tomato sauce to neutralize the acidity.

Baking soda, when combined with an acid - such as cream of tartar, lemon juice, buttermilk, cocoa, and vinegar - creates carbon dioxide. When the carbon dioxide is released, it causes the familiar texture and crumb in pancakes, cakes, quick breads, soda bread, and other baked and fried foods.

A good rule of thumb is to use around ¼ teaspoon of baking soda per 1 cup of flour.

BAKING POWDER

Baking powder is created by combining baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes cornstarch.

Since baking powder already contains an acid, it's most often used when a recipe does not call for an additional acidic ingredient or calls for too little of one.

There are two types of baking powder. Single-acting baking powder and double-acting baking power.

Single-acting baking powder gets activated only once - when it gets wet.

Most baking powder sold is double-acting. This means that the leavening occurs in two steps.

The first is when the baking powder gets wet, which is why you cannot prepare some batters ahead of time to bake later. The second step is when the baking powder is exposed to heat, which happens when the batter is baked or fried.

A good rule of thumb is to use around 1 teaspoon of baking powder per 1 cup of flour.

WHY SOME RECIPES CALL FOR BOTH

Some recipes use both baking soda and baking powder because they need extra leavening that the baking soda alone cannot provide.

In these cases, baking soda provides an initial lift, while baking powder provides additional rise.

WHICH ONE IS STRONGER?

You may have already guessed the answer since baking soda is used to make baking powder and you need more baking powder per cup of flour. But I’ll tell you anyway.

Baking soda is four times stronger than baking powder. 

That's why you will, more often than not, see recipes that only call for baking soda rather than recipes that only call for baking powder.

HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?

BAKING SODA

Baking soda is good indefinitely past its best by date, although it can lose potency over time.

A good rule of thumb is two years for an unopened package and six months for an opened package.   

However, to be honest, I’ve used very old baking soda with good results.

BAKING POWDER

Like baking soda, baking powder is good indefinitely past its best by date, and can lose its potency over time. 

For both opened and unopened, it’s ideal to use it within nine months to a year.

While storing it, make sure to keep it in a dry place and away from humidity.

HOW TO TEST IF IT’S STILL GOOD

BAKING POWDER

To test baking powder, pour 3 tablespoons of warm water into a small bowl, add ½ teaspoon of baking powder, and stir.

If the baking powder is good to use, it should fizz a little.

BAKING SODA

To test baking soda, pour 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar into a small bowl, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and stir.  

The mixture should rapidly bubble if the soda is fresh.

DO EGGS NEED TO BE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?

The short answer is "no."  While a side-by-side comparison shows that baking with eggs at room temperature makes a better crumb, it’s not otherwise noticeable.

What are Eggs used for?

Eggs do three things in most recipes: they help bind the ingredients together, act as a mild leavening agent, and they add moisture.

ARE EGGS DAIRY?

No, eggs are not dairy.  Dairy is milk and any food products made from milk, including cheese, cream, butter, and yogurt. 

So, while eggs are an animal product, they are not dairy. In fact, eggs fall under the protein food group.

How to tell if your eggs are still good

Fill a glass with cool water and submerge the eggs.

If the eggs sink to the bottom and lay flat on their side, they're still fresh.

If they sink, but stand on one end at the bottom of the glass, the eggs are not as fresh but still good.

An egg that floats to the top is likely spoiled.

EGGLESS OPTION

Eggs can be substituted with ¼ cup of unsweetened apple sauce per egg.  This means that for recipes calling for 2 eggs, you’d need ½ cup of unsweetened apple sauce.

The reason applesauce makes a good binder is that it's high in pectin. Pectin is a naturally occurring starch in fruits and berries that acts as a thickening agent and stabilizer in food.

This happens when combined with sugar and acid (if the fruit or berry isn't naturally acidic).

Just keep in mind that it may change the flavor slightly.

Sugar

The primary role of sugar is to be a sweetener. However, sugar also contributes to the tenderness and moistness of the baked good by absorbing and retaining moisture and helps create the golden brown color when baking as it caramelizes.

Recipes with more sugar often result in softer, moister textures. However, I learned the hard way that too much sugar leads to a sticky mess.

When it's heated, sugar caramelizes, resulting in a rich, complex flavor and a brown color. This adds both flavor and color to baked goods and is also the process in which caramel sauce, dulce de leche, caramel candies, and regular candies are made.

When used in recipes containing yeast, the sugar is eaten by the yeast, producing carbon dioxide and causing the dough to rise.

Sugar also acts as a preservative in jams, jellies, and fruit preserves by reducing water activity and preventing microbial growth.

There are many different types of sugar, including white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla sugar, powdered sugar, turbinado sugar, and demerara sugar.

When a recipe calls for “sugar” without specifying anything else, it's referring to regular white sugar.

White Sugar

White sugar (sometimes called granulated sugar, table sugar, or white granulated sugar) is made of either beet sugar or cane sugar, which has undergone a refining process.

It is the easiest to find and most commonly used.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added to it.

It is commonly used in chocolate chip cookie recipes, and it’s rare for a recipe that calls for brown sugar not to also call for white sugar as well.

When a recipe calls for “brown sugar” but doesn’t specify what type (light or dark), it is referring to light brown sugar.

In my recipes, you can use whatever type of brown sugar you have on hand, whether it is dark brown sugar, light brown sugar, or demerara sugar - which is very common in Israel.

Just keep in mind that the flavor and color will be slightly different, depending on what you choose to use.

Turbinado Sugar

Turbinado sugar is better known as "raw sugar." But, despite this name, the sugar is not really “raw.”

Instead, it's partially refined sugar that retains some of the original molasses.

The term "raw sugar" may also give off the impression that it is somehow healthier.

In reality, turbinado sugar is nutritionally similar to white sugar.

Demerara Sugar

Demerara sugar is very popular in Israel and is especially delicious in tea, but is also used for baking.

Unlike white sugar, demerara sugar undergoes minimal processing and retains some vitamins and minerals.

However, it is still not much healthier than white sugar.

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar is not very common in the States. However, it is common in Israel and parts of Europe.

This is sugar that sat for an extended period of time with vanilla beans, giving it a vanilla flavor.

Caster Sugar

This type of sugar is common in the United Kingdom.

It has a grain finer than white (granulated) sugar and larger than powdered sugar.

Caster sugar is often called for in recipes for delicate baked goods like meringues, souffles, and sponge cakes.

You can use a 1:1 conversion rate between caster sugar and white (granulated) sugar.

Powdered sugar

Powdered sugar, sometimes known as confectioners’ sugar, is a sugar with a powdered texture.

This sugar is rarely used for baking. Instead, it is used for dusting desserts and making frosting, icing, and glazes.

In some countries, you can also find powdered vanilla sugar.

It is made the exact same way regular vanilla sugar is made. However, the sugar used is powdered instead of granulated.

Vanilla Extract vs Vanilla sugar

In my recipes, I don’t specify what kind of vanilla to use.

The reason for this is that in the States, vanilla extract is exclusively used.

Meanwhile in Israel, along with many European countries, vanilla sugar is common.

In most, if not all recipes, both vanilla extract and vanilla sugar can be used.

In recipes where vanilla sugar can be used instead of extract, you can replace them 1:1.

Replacing Sugar with Honey

If you’d prefer to use honey instead of sugar, you can do so with pretty good results.

Honey can be two or even three times as sweet depending on the honey, so for every 1 cup of sugar, you can use ½ to ⅔ cup honey.

Since honey adds liquid, you need to remove some to balance it out.  For every cup of honey, remove a ¼ cup of liquid.

Also, it burns faster than granulated sugar, so you want to lower the baking temperature by 25 F.  In addition, check it early and often to avoid burning or overbaking.

How to Store Sugar

Sugar should be stored in an airtight container to prevent clumping and moisture absorption, and kept in a cool, dry place.

BAKING AT HIGH ALTITUDES

High altitude affects yeast doughs because the lower air pressure allows the yeast to rise 25 to 50 percent faster and the drier air makes the flour drier.

To fix this, decrease the amount of yeast in the recipe by 25% and adjust the water and flour as necessary to get a dough with the correct consistency.

Rising times are also much shorter at higher altitudes, so do not go by rising times, but by sight.

You can also give the dough one extra rise by punching it down twice before forming it.

Or, if you want to slow the rise down, you can cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator for its first rise, giving the dough more time to develop.  However, it will rise much slower.

Adjustment for 3000 feet

• Reduce sugar: for each cup, decrease 0 to 1 tablespoon.
• Increase liquid: for each cup, add 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Adjustment for 5000 feet

• Reduce sugar: for each cup, decrease 0 to 2 tablespoons.
• Increase liquid: for each cup, add 2 to 4 tablespoons.

Adjustment for 7000+ feet

• Reduce sugar: for each cup, decrease 1 to 3 tablespoons.
• Increase liquid: for each cup, add 3 to 4 tablespoons.

Baking with Humidity

Humidity can have a big impact on how your baked goods come out.

This is because when humidity is extremely high (think 70 percent or more), baking ingredients like flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda soak up moisture from the air.

This can negatively impact the outcome of your cakes, cookies, yeast breads, and quick breads.

There are some things you can do to try to save your baking.

Try to counterbalance the additional moisture

To help counterbalance the additional moisture your dry ingredients soak up from the air, try reducing the amount of liquid in the recipe by about one quarter.

If the batter or dough looks too dry once all the ingredients are mixed together, add additional liquid a tablespoon at a time until you have the desired consistency.

This is not usually possible to do for cookies, but it does work for cakes and breads.

Store Ingredients in the Fridge

If flour and sugar are stored in the refrigerator or freezer rather than in a cupboard or pantry, they are better protected from humidity.

As an added benefit, keeping these ingredients cool also helps keep them fresher longer, in addition to helping them stay bug-free.

For the best results, let them warm to room temperature before using.

Bake for Longer

If you bake your goodies for a few extra minutes, it can help the liquid to cook off.

To avoid overbaking, continue testing for doneness every couple of minutes for breads, quick breads, cakes, cupcakes, and muffins.  Cookies, on the other hand, need to be checked every minute.

Use Air Conditioning

To help lower humidity levels on humid summer days, air condition the room for at least an hour before you start baking.

Cooler air isn’t able to hold as much moisture as warm air.

Store your baked goods in an airtight container

Humidity can also ruin your fresh-baked goods because when they are left out, they can absorb moisture.

To avoid this, store them in an airtight container or resealable bag.

Is Irish Soda Bread made with dairy?

Yes, Irish soda bread is made with dairy products such as buttermilk, sour milk, and butter.

Buttermilk or sour milk are used in soda bread because they contain lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. This makes the bread fluffy.

Also, it gives the bread a more complex flavor making it tastier overall.

However, you can use a buttermilk alternative instead, such as buttermilk with almond milk, buttermilk with soy milk, and buttermilk with oat milk.

WHAT IS BUTTERMILK?

Buttermilk was originally the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cultured cream. 

Traditionally, the milk was left to sit to allow the cream and milk to separate. During this time, naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria fermented the milk and turned it into buttermilk, making it tangier and thicker than regular milk.

However, modern buttermilk is made by adding lactic acid bacteria to milk to ferment it.

Which dairy free milk should I use?

Honestly, it's whatever you have on hand or prefer.

My go-to is a neutral flavored full fat oat milk because I find that they are the most similar to regular full fat milk.

Almond milk works well here, too. I personally like using an unsweetened barista almond milk because it is more similar to regular full fat milk, but whatever you have will work.

You can also use coconut milk, though it may have a subtle coconut flavor if you do. Coconut milk has more fat and is similar to using a light cream, but it won't make a noticeable difference.

I've never used soy milk, so I don't have any opinions on it, but you can use that as well.

Adjusting for a Convection Oven

Convection ovens blow the hot air around, producing around 25 to 30 percent more heat.

Since convection ovens produce more heat, you need either lowering the temperature or shortening the cooking time to compensate.

When recipes specify temperatures and cooking times, it’s for conventional ovens, unless specified otherwise.

A simple rule to follow is to lower the temperature by 25ºF or 14ºC when baking cookies and pies, and 50ºF or 28ºC when roasting meat and poultry. Some convection ovens offer separate settings for baking and for roasting.

You can also leave the temperature the same and instead, shorten the cooking time by 25 percent. For example, if your recipe calls for 60 minutes in the oven, check the food after 45 minutes instead.

However, keep in mind, some convection ovens actually make a heat adjustment for you. That is, if you set a convection oven for 350ºF, it might actually set itself to 325ºF to compensate. So, check your manual before making adjustments.

TROUBLESHOOTING

WHY IS IT TAKING LONGER THAN DESCRIBED TO BAKE?

Over time, the thermostat on ovens gets a little off, causing some ovens to run hot and others to run cool. 

This is why recipes tend to say things like “10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.” 

So, if it takes you longer than expected, that’s fine, don’t worry about it. Just keep baking until ready.

WHY DID MY RECIPE COME OUT TOO DRY?

Just like some ovens run cool, others run hot.  If your oven runs hot, bake these at a lower temperature. 

Ideally, you should get an oven thermometer to know what temperature you’re really baking at.

HOW TO STORE BREAD

Breads, like challah and brioche, take longer to go stale, while sourdough bread is more resilient against mold than other types of bread.  

On the other hand, there are breads, such as baguettes, which should be eaten same-day. Most breads can be stored.

DO NOT REFRIGERATE BREAD

Unlike commercial bread that has preservatives, homemade bread will become stale much faster in the fridge.  Instead, you want to leave it out on the counter.

STORING BREAD IN A BAG

Storing bread in a bag may seem like a good idea, and it’s not exactly a bad idea, but it will make the crust softer due to trapped moisture.  

If you do this, it is best to use it for toast.

STORING BREAD IN A BREAD BOX

Storing bread in a bread box will create an environment with balanced humidity and air circulation.  

A large box is better because it will allow for maximum air circulation.

Make sure not to crowd your bread, because the more bread you put in the bread box, the higher the humidity level.  

The downside of a breadbox is that bread is prone to molding, especially in hot weather.

How To Freeze Bread

Let bread cool completely.

Wrap each loaf tightly in plastic wrap and again in foil or freezer paper. Or, use a zip-top freezer bag with all of the air removed.

Freeze for up to 6 months. After that, the bread may become freezer burnt.

If you do leave bread in the freezer too long, and it becomes a little stale or slightly freezer burnt, don't throw it out.

Instead, you can use it to make French toast or croutons.

How to Defrost Bread

Defrost bread in the oven at 325°F or 163°C for 20 to 30 minutes, until soft and fully thawed in the middle.

Soda bread vs sourdough bread

Soda bread is a quick, dense bread leavened with baking soda, whereas sourdough bread is naturally leavened through fermentation, giving it a chewy texture and a tangy taste.

Why don't you knead Irish soda bread?

Kneading causes the dough to become dense and gummy.

Why cut an X in the Center?

Scoring the dough will help the heat reach the center of the loaf while baking.