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 (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.

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 rising agent in gluten-free bread? ›

In any case, xanthan gum and baking powder/baking soda fulfil completely different roles in gluten free baking: xanthan gum is a binder (acting as a “glue” that holds your bakes together), and baking powder and baking soda are raising or leavening agents, making your bakes nice and fluffy.

Which gluten-free flour works best with yeast? ›

My DIY Gluten-Free Flour Blend, Gluten-Free Rice Flour Blend, Sorghum Flour Blend (all 3 are linked above), and Gluten-Free Whole Grain Blend all work very well in yeast recipes.

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

One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread.

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.

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.

What gluten-free flour is best for bread? ›

If you'd like to turn your favorite bread recipe into a gluten free one, look no further than Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour. A great substitute for traditional bread flour, it is designed to be used in nearly every wheat flour recipe.

What does egg do in gluten-free bread? ›

The most common binder in gluten-free baking is eggs. Eggs can replace many of the functions that gluten provides, such as binding, enhancing texture and helping set the structure of the final product.

What is the best binder for gluten-free bread? ›

Binders such as xanthan gum, guar gum, and psyllium husk are essential for replacing structure typically provided by gluten.

What does cornstarch do in gluten-free bread? ›

Cornstarch is a 'starchy' gluten free flour. That means that it gives gluten free bakes their fluffiness and airiness, but it doesn't contribute much to their taste or structure. It can be substituted with an equal weight of arrowroot starch, potato starch or tapioca starch.

Why do you put xanthan gum in gluten free baking? ›

Using xanthan gum helps provide some of the stickiness that gluten free goods lack, replacing some elasticity. Xanthan gum mimics some of gluten's most essential properties by sticking to flour and its moisture. This helps create moist goods that hold their shape after being baked.

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.

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

It works well in recipes that call for baking powder or yeast, making it a versatile product you'll reach for time and time again. At Bob's Red Mill, we're proud of our wide range of gluten free products.

What is the secret of baking with gluten free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

How long should you let gluten-free dough rise? ›

If you can let the gluten free bread dough rise overnight in a cool — not warm — place, the slower rise will provide a stronger cell structure and more of a sourdough flavor when baked the next day. A refrigerated overnight rise is a great way to get a longer proof without weakening the bread's structure.

Does baking soda help gluten free bread rise? ›

Texture and Rise: Gluten-free baking often requires a bit of finesse to achieve the desired rise and texture. Baking soda's reaction with an acid can help achieve that necessary lift, while baking powder provides an extra boost when the batter or dough is exposed to heat.

How do you make gluten-free dough more elastic? ›

Psyllium husk powder allows me to rest my dough without compromising the final quality of the loaf. It also makes my dough more pliable, I am able to knead and shape it a lot easier.

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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