Keto Irish Soda Bread

Name: Keto Irish Soda Bread
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 cups almond flour (or ground almonds, 200g **see notes); 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (flax meal, 30g ***see notes); 2 tbsp psyllium husk powder (or 4 tbsp whole psyllium husks); 3/4 cup buttermilk (180ml, room temperature); 1 egg (large, whisked, room temperature); 1 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp sea salt (optional)

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This keto Irish soda bread has a crunchy crust and a rustic texture. It is a simple, quick and flavourful bread that requires just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes prep time.

It is St. Patricks day tomorrow and everyone is thinking about cabbage, green desserts... and Irish soda bread!

There are many ways to make this classic bread, and recipes range from dense and dark to sweet versions that resemble a gigantic scone.

My keto soda bread is a gluten-free, grain free version of how my Irish friend Annie likes hers. It has the same rustic crumb and texture as the traditional recipe and contains the two essential ingredients: baking soda and buttermilk.

You are going to love how simple this bread is to make. There is no need for any fancy equipment. A bowl, a spatula and your hands will do!

Of course, this is such a delicious quick bread that we don't only make it for St. Paddy's day.

In my opinion, it is a great everyday bread for any time of the year.

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🌟 Why You'll Love This Bread
Ingredients
Recipe Variations
Instructions
Recipe FAQs
Serving Suggestion
Storage
Related recipes
Recipe

🌟 Why You'll Love This Bread

Rustic yet fluffy texture
Mild, nutty flavor
Easy one bowl recipe - only 6 ingredients
Naturally gluten-free, grain-free and high in fiber
Low carb and keto-friendly
3.6g net carbs per slice

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need:

Almond flour - I used ground almonds, which is equivalent to regular almond flour.
Ground flaxseed - Both brown and golden flax meal work fine. The brown flax has a nuttier taste.
Psyllium husk powder - Psyllium is a prebiotic fiber and creates a fluffy texture in low carb bread.
Buttermilk - This is the secret ingredient in classic Irish soda bread. It assists with the leavening of the dough. My buttermilk was fairly thick. Buttermilk contains a moderate amount of carbs. However, calculated per slice the bread is keto friendly.
Egg - Whisk the egg well before adding it.
Baking Soda - Also called bicarbonate of soda. It would not be soda bread without the baking soda!
Salt - This is optional, but I added a dash sea salt to the dough for a better flavor.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Recipe Variations

I like my soda bread savoury. However, you can also make a sweet version! Simply add 1-2 tablespoons of powdered sweetener of your choice (allulose would be perfect). Instead of currants, stir in a handful of sugar-free dried cranberries.

Another option is to add crunch: chopped walnuts, pecans or seeds such as pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. Add these into the dough or sprinkle over the top.

If you really, really want to avoid buttermilk, I suggest that you use full fat plain yogurt or Greek yogurt instead. Another option would be to replace the buttermilk with ¼ cup or 60 ml heavy cream, ¼ cup or 60 ml almond milk and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Knead the dough and add more almond milk if required.

Dairy-free: For a dairy-free version, use coconut yogurt.

Instructions

This section contains step-by-step instructions and photos that show how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities

Mixing dry ingredients in a bowl with a spatula.

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.

Dry ingredients with eggs and yogurt in the middle.

Step 2: Make a hollow in the centre and add the beaten egg and the buttermilk. Combine with a spatula, then knead the dough until smooth.

Step 3: Form a dough ball, then let it rest for 10 minutes. During this time, the flax and psyllium absorb the moisture.

Step 4: Form a loaf and put it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Score the top with a knife. Bake in the oven until golden brown and you can insert a toothpick without crumbs sticking.

Unbaked bread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Let the bread cool fully on a wire rack before slicing. It firms up as it cools.

Expert Tips

Here are a few things that I have learned from baking many, many loaves of low carb bread over the years:

For a better rise and a light crumb texture, it is helpful if all wet ingredients (the buttermilk and the egg) are room temperature.

Check the bread after 30 minutes in the oven. Once the top is golden, cover it loosely with aluminium foil for the remainder of the baking time. This way, the inside of the bread can cook fully without the crust over-browning.

It is important that you use powdered psyllium and not whole psyllium husks. It should have a very fine consistency, just like flour.

Recipe FAQs

What is soda bread and is it keto?

Soda bread is a quick bread that is made with baking soda instead of baking powder or yeast. The traditional Irish soda bread is not Keto-friendly because it contains wheat flour.

Why is my bread purple?

Some psyllium husk brands take on a purple hue when baked. This does not affect the taste. I have used BonPom, Green Origins and Just Natural without issues. The NOW brand is also fine.

How can I make it nut free?

Substitute the almond flour with a blend of sunflower seed flour and sesame seed flour for a nut-free version.

Can I use coconut flour instead?

No, this does not work.

Serving Suggestion

My favourite way of eating low carb Irish soda bread is simple: toasted and spread with a generous amount of butter.

For breakfast, it is also delicious with sweet toppings such as sugar free strawberry jam or sugar free lemon curd.

Or make a quick sandwich at lunchtime by topping it with anything from ham and cheese to keto tuna salad or keto egg salad.

The bread is also fabulous as a side to hearty soups such as my keto butternut squash soup, keto cabbage soup or keto tomato soup.

Storage

Refrigerator: Store the bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezer: I love freezing bread, because then I can just pop a slice in the toaster when I feel like it. You can freeze it pre-sliced for up to 3 months.

Here are more easy keto bread recipes to try:

Keto Pita Bread
30 Minutes
Almond Flour Keto Bread Recipe
50 Minutes
Vegan Keto Bread Without Eggs
1 Hours 10 Minutes
90 Second Keto Bread
2 Minutes

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Recipe

A loaf of bread sliced open and a slice of bread.

Keto Irish Soda Bread

Katrin Nürnberger

from Sugar Free Londoner

Keto Irish soda bread is a delicious grain-free, gluten-free alternative to traditional soda bread. It is crusty on the outside and has a rustic texture. Only 6 ingredients and no blender required.

5 from 28 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 45

Resting time 10

Total Time 1

Course Bread

Cuisine Irish

Servings

Calories 187 kcal

Note: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups almond flour or ground almonds, 200g **see notes
▢ ¼ cup ground flaxseed flax meal, 30g ***see notes
▢ 2 tablespoon psyllium husk powder or 4 tablespoon whole psyllium husks
▢ ¾ cup buttermilk 180ml, room temperature
▢ 1 egg large, whisked, room temperature
▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
▢ ¼ tsp sea salt optional

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.
Make a hollow in the centre and add the beaten egg and the buttermilk. Combine with a spatula, then knead the dough until smooth.
Form a dough ball, then let it rest for 10 minutes. During this time, the flax and psyllium absorb the moisture.
Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F electric or 160C / 320F fan.
Form a loaf and put it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Score the top with a knife. Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and you can insert a toothpick without crumbs sticking. Check the bread after 30 minutes in the oven. Once the top is golden, cover it loosely with aluminium foil for the remainder of the baking time to avoid over-browning.
Let the bread cool fully on a wire rack before slicing. It firms up as it cools.

Notes

3.6g net carbs per slice. Makes 8 slices.

**I used ground almonds. If you are using super-fine almond flour, you may need to add a tablespoon almond milk or water to loosen the dough.

***Ground flaxseed MUST be stored in the freezer or it will go rancid and smell fishy.

The psyllium needs to be powdered. Whole psyllium husk looks like tiny sticks, and you'd need to use twice as much.

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. Or, slice and freeze for up to 3 months. Toast straight from frozen.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcalTotal Carbohydrates: 8.5gProtein: 7.6gFat: 15.5gSaturated Fat: 1.5gFiber: 4.9gSugar: 2.3g

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Comments

5 from 28 votes (12 ratings without comment)

Keto Irish Soda Bread

🌟 Why You'll Love This Bread

Ingredients

Recipe Variations