Guinness Irish Soda Bread
A rustic Guinness Irish Soda Bread with a crisp crust and tender crumb. This easy no-yeast bread comes together quickly with rich, malty flavor from the beer, making it perfect for serving with butter, soups, or hearty meals.
Servings 12
Calories 217kcal
Ingredients
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour sifted
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 14.9 oz Guinness Beer or any other dark beer
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 tablespoons butter chilled and cut into little pieces
- 1 egg lightly beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda
- Add cold butter pieces and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and Guinness beer together
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not overmix
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape into a round loaf. The dough will be sticky, lightly flour your hands if needed
- Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet
- Using a sharp knife, score a deep cross on top of the loaf (do not cut all the way through)
- Lightly dust the top with flour
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing
Notes
- Do not overmix the dough; mix just until combined to keep the bread tender and not dense
- The dough will be sticky. Lightly flour your hands when shaping but avoid adding too much extra flour
- Use cold butter for the best texture; it creates a more tender crumb
- Any dark beer can be used, but Guinness gives the best flavor and color
- If you prefer a slightly sweeter bread, you can increase the sugar by 1–2 tablespoons
- Scoring a deep cross on top helps the bread bake evenly and gives it the classic soda bread look
- Oven temperatures may vary, start checking at 25 minutes to avoid overbaking
- Bread is best served warm with butter, but also delicious toasted the next day
Nutrition
Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 416mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 2mg
