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!

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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.

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

One of the challenges is that when gluten-free dough is thickened with additives like starches and gums, it becomes sticky. Some bakers dust sticky dough with flour, but that's problematic with gluten-free formulations.

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

Apple Cider Vinegar – Superpower your Gluten-Free Kitchen! Apple cider vinegar is often used in baking, but why? It is a great leavening agent, but it also has powerful flavour enhancing properties. I find it adds the perfect amount of depth of flavour, and helps activate baking soda creating a lovely airy texture.

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.

What is the best gluten free flour for yeast breads? ›

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 is my homemade gluten free bread so dense? ›

Dense loaf- you may need to use more liquid, gluten free dough is usually wetter than regular wheat flour dough resembling a thick brownie batter. How much liquid is enough in a recipe ultimately depends not on formulas but in observation. You may need more or less liquid than the recipe specifies.

What is the hardest thing to make gluten-free? ›

What was the hardest thing for you to make gluten-free? Sandwich bread. I tried unsuccessfully for years to make one that was light and chewy and had the right texture and taste. Every day, my son would come home from school and toss a loaf into the air to test it out.

What is the trick to 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.

Why does gluten-free bread upset my stomach? ›

Additionally, certain ingredients commonly used in gluten-free bread, such as xanthan gum or guar gum, can contribute to gas and bloating. These additives are often included to improve the texture and rise of the bread but can have a negative impact on digestive health for some individuals.

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.

What does egg do in gluten free bread? ›

Eggs are also natural leaveners that support the volume, texture, color, and shelf-life of gluten-free bread. Including oil can also result in a richer, more tasty loaf and provide a bit more moisture too.

Why put apple cider vinegar in bread? ›

And It's not just cakes that benefit from a touch of vinegar, but also biscuits, muffins, and even bread. So when it comes to bread, it's the same concept – vinegar inhibits gluten formation which leads to a more relaxed and extensible dough, resulting in a less dense and chewy bread.

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? ›

While our Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour is not meant for yeast dough, you can use our Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour blend in your favorite recipes instead! Just one gluten free flour blend has so many uses!

How do you make gluten-free bread rise higher? ›

Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free location. Ideal rise temperatures are between 80°F – 90°F; higher temperatures may kill the yeast and keep the dough from rising; Lower temperatures will slow the yeast activity which will increase your rise time. Chef's Mazor tips for a maximum dough rise: Heat for 2 min.

What is the rising agent in gluten free bread? ›

Gluten free recipes generally require extra leavening agents to mimic the gluten. Baking powder and/or baking soda will help make your dough rise and 'pop'.

How do you get gluten free baked goods to rise? ›

2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of gluten-free flour is necessary to ensure proper leavening. Baking soda and buttermilk can be used to leaven instead of baking powder, but 1-1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar should be added for each 1/2 teaspoon baking soda used.

Why is my bread gluten not rising? ›

Dough may not have been kneaded enough. Kneading 'exercises' the gluten in the bread and gives it the elasticity to hold in the air bubbles produced by the yeast. It is these air bubbles that cause the dough to expand and rise.

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.

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