Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (2024)

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If you're after agluten free soda bread which is SUPER easy to make, you've come to the right place.

After posting my basic gluten free bread recipe last week, loads of people told me they were struggling to get hold of yeast - and now I've got an ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER.

This gluten free soda bread is possibly thebest gluten free bread I have ever baked.

And to top it all, it'syeast free.

In fact, this gluten free soda bread recipe uses basic storecupboard ingredients (plus a few from the fridge) and bakes in 30 minutes, with no kneading necessary.

Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (1)

What is gluten free soda bread?

I'd heard of soda bread before but up until this week I'd never actually tried it.

I was sceptical of how it would taste but honestly, I am 100% converted.

Basically, soda bread is an Irish bread, traditionally made from flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk.

The idea uses bicarbonate of soda instead of yeast as a leavening agent.

The bicarb reacts with the buttermilk to create tiny bubbles and that bread-like texture.

Of course, my gluten free soda bread recipe varies slightly from a traditional, 'gluteny' soda bread as the flour properties mean you generally need more liquid in the mix.

You'll also need the added xanthan gum to mimic some of the elasticity of the missing gluten.

But I really hope you'll agree that despite its simplicity, this gluten free soda bread is truly out of this world!

How to make this yeast free, gluten free soda bread

Making this gluten free soda bread recipe is honestly so simple I can't believe I haven't done it before.

And the fact that you don't even need yeast just makes things even quicker. No proving time necessary!

To make this gluten and yeast free soda bread recipe, you'll need:

  • 400g plain gluten free flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • ½ tsp xanthan gum
  • 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 large egg (lightly whisked)
  • 200ml natural yoghurt
  • 100ml milk
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • Extra gluten free flour for dusting (I used rice flour but you can use plain GF flour)
Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (3)

Simple storecupboard ingredients

So most of these ingredients are basics I hope you'll already have in stock.

Salt, sugar, bicarb and xanthan gum are always present in my kitchen cupboards!

I know some people are struggling to get hold of gluten free flour, but there are lots of places selling it online.

Check this post out if you're having any trouble as I have found a few stockists online.

Now traditionally soda bread uses buttermilk, but as I didn't have any at home I just made my own.

In fact, you make a simple buttermilk by adding 1 tbsp of lemon juice per 1 cup of milk, simple!

However, I wanted to use a mixture of yoghurt and milk to make the mixture a little thicker and add some moisture to my gluten free soda bread.

I also figured more people would have yoghurt, milk and lemon juice in the fridge than buttermilk!

I haven't tried a dairy or egg free version of this recipe (yet!) so wouldn't want to comment on how this would turn out with replacements.

But if you do give it a try then please let me know how you get on!

Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (4)

What do you eat soda bread with?

Because of its shape, this gluten and yeast free soda bread isn't the best bread for sandwiches.

For that you'll probably want something more like my gluten free loaf recipe.

This bread, however, is perfect for eating warm from the oven slathered in butter.

And that's pretty much what happened to this whole loaf!

Soda bread is also great to serve up as a side with stews or soups.

Try it with my fiery carrot, chilli and ginger soup or on the side of my gluten free roast chicken soup.

You can also toast it and top it with anything you fancy too. It's really very versatile!

Some people also add raisins or currants to their soda bread, though I'm not the biggest fan of this kind of dried fruit so I shall be steering clear. Feel free to go nuts though!

Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (5)

My gluten free, yeast free soda bread recipe

If you're looking for a gluten and yeast free bread recipe, then this gluten free soda bread recipe is definitely something you need to make RIGHT NOW.

It's honestly so simple that I can't believe I haven't tried it before. I'm going to be making this over and over again.

Plus I've now made this handy recipe to show you guys how to put this bread together...

If you make this recipe and love it, please do let me know bytagging me on my Instagramor using#theglutenfreeblogger. I love seeing your bakes!

And please do leave a review to let others know you loved it too! It would mean the world to me.

Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (6)

Yield: 1 loaf

Gluten Free Soda Bread (Yeast Free)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This gluten free and yeast free soda bread recipe is an easy, quick bread to make. No yeast needed and using basic household ingredients, this gluten free soda bread bakes in 30 minutes. Perfect served warm with lashings of butter!

Ingredients

  • 400g plain gluten free flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • ½ tsp xanthan gum
  • 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 large egg (lightly whisked)
  • 200ml natural yoghurt
  • 100ml milk
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • Extra gluten free flour for dusting (I used rice flour but you can use plain GF flour)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190'C / Gas 5. Line a baking sheet with a piece of baking paper and set aside.
  2. Mix the yoghurt, milk and lemon juice in a bowl and stir. The lemon juice should cause the milk/yoghurt to curdle a little, which is what you're going for here!
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, xanthan gum, sugar and bicarbonate of soda and mix well. Pour in the yoghurt/milk/lemon mixture and then add the egg (which should be whisked just enough to combine the yolk and white).
  4. Use a wooden spoon to bring the mixture together into a soft, sticky dough. Dust the worktop with a sprinkle of gluten free flour and turn out the dough. Dust some gluten free flour on your hands as well as and then lightly mould the dough together into a ball - if it is a little difficult to handle at first, you should find with the extra flour it starts to become more workable. Don't over-work it as you don't want to add too much extra flour to the mix.
  5. Mould the dough into a circle shape (it should hold its shape relatively well but may still spread a little, this is fine - you don't want the dough to be super stiff!) and place it on the centre of the lined baking sheet. Use a knife to score an X into the top of the dough and sprinkle with a little extra flour.
  6. Bake the dough in the centre of the hot oven for around 30 minutes. It should be lovely and golden and sound hollow when you tap the top and bottom of the loaf. Once baked, remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • This gluten free soda bread is best eaten fresh on the day of baking. It will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container or you can slice it up and freeze it, defrosting as needed.
  • If the top of the loaf starts to catch when baking, cover it with some foil for the rest of the bake.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 138Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 162mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

Need some more gluten free baking inspiration?

If you want to have a go at some of the other gluten free bread recipes on the blog, why not give some of these a try?

They’re perfect for baking away all of your troubles.

  • Easy gluten free bake-at-home bread recipe
  • Simple gluten free flapjacks recipe
  • Gluten free fairy cakes recipe (with egg free option)
  • Basic gluten free triple chocolate brownies

If you do make this recipe please let me know! I’d love to see your photos using #theglutenfreeblogger,share them inmy Facebook groupor tag me onInstagram.

And if you have any recipe suggestions, please let me know in the comments what you’d like to see next!

Oh – anddon’t forget to sign up for my e-newsletterwhere you’ll know about all my latest posts and competitions first!

Like this Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe? Pin this recipe card below for later!

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Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (8)
Gluten Free Soda Bread recipe (NO YEAST!) - The Gluten Free Blogger (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to getting gluten-free bread to rise? ›

An easy way to create a good environment for gluten-free bread to rise is to turn your oven to 200 F; when it reaches this temperature, turn off the oven and place a shallow baking pan partially filled with hot water on one of the shelves.

What is the best gluten-free flour for yeast bread? ›

If you want to buy just one gluten-free flour, we highly recommend the Pillsbury all-purpose gluten-free flour. Not only is it our favorite gluten-free flour, and easy to use in gluten-free recipes, but it's also one of the few gluten-free flours currently on the market that is recommended for baking with yeast.

Why can't you use yeast with gluten-free flour? ›

Fresh yeast requires two rises, so it is not ideal for gluten free breads, which require only one rise.

Why add apple cider vinegar to gluten-free bread? ›

Apple cider vinegar or another acid lightens up the dough. You can add up to 4 Tbsp of acid for 500 g gluten-free flour. Don't worry, you won't be able to taste it afterwards. To lighten up a yeast dough even more, you can add a packet of baking powder or cream of tartar baking powder to 500 g flour.

What is the biggest challenge of making gluten-free bread? ›

Running into problems. Gluten is protein that elasticizes dough, providing structure and enabling it to trap the carbon dioxide generated by yeast. (This is why many gluten-free formulations don't use yeast.) Eliminating it often leaves dough that is runnier than conventional bread dough.

Does xanthan gum help gluten-free bread rise? ›

Without xanthan gum in a gluten-free bread or cake recipe for instance, the dough or batter would be dry and crumbly and would not rise, despite the presence of a leavening agent.

Which flour is best for gluten free bread? ›

The 14 Best Gluten-Free Flours
  1. Almond Flour. Share on Pinterest. ...
  2. Buckwheat Flour. Buckwheat may contain the word “wheat,” but it is not a wheat grain and is gluten-free. ...
  3. Sorghum Flour. ...
  4. Amaranth Flour. ...
  5. Teff Flour. ...
  6. Arrowroot Flour. ...
  7. Brown Rice Flour. ...
  8. Oat Flour.
Feb 7, 2023

What is the closest gluten free flour to all-purpose flour? ›

Brown rice flour is about as close to a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour as it gets since it provides structure and a “wheat-like” flavor.

What flour is best for gluten free baking? ›

Best Overall: Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour

This mix, which has all recognizable ingredients (including sweet white rice flour, which is the main ingredient in mochi, a nice light, powdery, starchy flour that doubles as a binder), worked well in all three of our tests.

What does cream of tartar do in gluten-free bread? ›

A: Yes, cream of tartar can be used in gluten-free bread recipes to improve dough stability and rise.

Does Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour work with yeast? ›

This flour is designed for quick breads and not recommended for use in yeast recipes.

Is King Arthur gluten-free flour good for yeast baking? ›

The ability to control the amount of added xanthan gum isn't the only thing that makes our Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour ideal for yeast baking.

What does vinegar do in gluten-free baking? ›

Vinegar also helps in creating a tender and moist crumb in our baked goods. This is because the acidity of vinegar interferes with gluten development. Gluten is a protein that can make our baked goods tough when overworked, which is why you'll often hear me talking about not overmixing your batter.

What does egg do in gluten free bread? ›

Gluten is what provides elasticity, bite and binding to regular bread. Without it, gluten free bread can be a bit of a crumbly mess. As such, a lot of gluten free breads contain eggs as a binder.

What does vinegar do to gluten? ›

Most vinegars are gluten-free. Most varieties are distilled and made from inherently gluten-free ingredients such as grapes. The only vinegar that needs to be avoided is malt vinegar. Malt vinegar is not distilled, and malt is derived from barley, a grain that is not gluten-free.

Why is my homemade gluten free bread so dense? ›

Inadequate mixing: Consider using a stand mixer if you're finding the loaves to be denser than you like. It's certainly possible to get good results by mixing with a spoon or dough whisk, but you really have to work at it, to get a completely smooth mixture, and some of our readers are giving up too soon.

What can I add to gluten free flour to rise? ›

Gluten Free Self Rising Flour:

Simply whisk together my gfJules Gluten Free Flour plus a leavening agent (baking powder) and a touch of salt. Here are the proportions to use: 1 cup gfJules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (not baking soda)

How long should you let gluten free bread rise? ›

Leave the batter right in the mixing bowl. Or if you need your bowl for another purpose, scrape the sticky batter into a large measuring cup, or another bowl. Cover the bowl or cup, and let the thick batter rise for 1 hour.

How do you make gluten free bread more elastic? ›

From my experiments: you need psyllium husk for good gluten-free bread. For my bread recipes, I wouldn't try to replace it. It makes the dough workable, so it doesn't squish all over the place. It's also what makes your bread chewy and stretchy.

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