Easy Irish Brown Bread (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

The hearty loaf of Irish brown bread is super easy to make, no kneading required, and comes together in an hour! With a tight crumb characteristic of soda bread and slightly sweetened with maple syrup, it’s perfect for St. Patrick’s day or anytime. Eat it as avocado toast, rustic sandwiches, or simply toasted and spread with fresh butter or jam! Totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too, but no one would care.

Jump to:

• Bread Baking is My Passion
• What is Irish Brown Bread?
• Why This Recipe Works:
• Ingredients You’ll Need:
• Ingredient Notes/Substitutions:
• How to Make Irish Brown Bread (Step by Step):
• Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
• Recipe FAQs:
• Other Gluten-Free Bread Recipes You’ll Love:
• Irish Brown Bread (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Bread Baking is My Passion

If you’ve followed this blog for some time, you know that I am a big fan of homemade bread.

In fact, I bake a loaf of fresh bread at least once a week, and some of our favorite yeast breads include this popular buckwheat bread, this soft gluten-free white bread, this fluffy brown rice bread, and this delicious potato bread.

However, I also love baking breads without yeast, because some days I don’t have the time to wait for the dough to rise. A few popular ones include our honey oat bread, this delicious gluten-free naan bread, and Irish soda bread.

Today, I’m making this gorgeous loaf of Irish brown soda bread (which is perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s day), so let’s get started!

What is Irish Brown Bread?

Irish brown bread is basically a wholegrain version of traditional Irish soda bread – you will probably recognize it as a rustic round loaf with a cross cut on top of the loaf.

(Fun fact: The reason for cutting the cross on top is to allow the heat to better penetrate the dough as it bakes so the center of the loaf cooks evenly.)

Another main characteristic of Irish brown soda bread is the fact that is leavened with baking soda and baking powder instead of yeast, which results in a hearty bread with a tight crumb and a denser texture (some say it feels more like a scone than yeast bread).

Traditional Irish brown soda bread is made with whole wheat flour, but we’re making a gluten-free version of this quick bread, and replacing normal wholemeal flour with a blend of wholegrain gluten-free flours (particularly brown rice flour, millet flour and sorghum flour).

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: The basic ingredients required to make this Irish brown soda bread recipe are easily accessible, and you might already have them in your kitchen!

• Easy to Make, No Knead: All you need to do is to mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients to form a homogeneous dough, and then shape it into a ball and cut a cross on top of it before baking. Did I also mention that you don’t need to knead the dough? How much easier does it get?

• No Yeast or Rising Required: Since the leavening agents in this brown Irish soda bread recipe are baking soda and baking powder, no yeast or rising time is needed! A loaf of this brown soda bread is ready in an hour!

• Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: The best part is that this loaf of brown bread is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten and lactose intolerances can enjoy it without worries.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free Irish brown bread recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredient Notes/Substitutions:

• Brown Rice Flour: I like using brown rice flour as the base of this Irish brown soda bread recipe. Alternatively, you may also use a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend if you prefer.

• Millet Flour: You can make your own millet flour or buy a packet. If you don’t have millet flour, you can substitute it with sorghum flour, amaranth flour, or buckwheat flour.

• Sorghum Flour: If you don’t have sorghum flour, you can use millet flour, amaranth flour, or buckwheat flour.

• Psyllium Husk Powder: Psyllium husk powder is the substitute for gluten in this gluten-free recipe and helps to bind the ingredients together. For best results, do not leave it out or substitute it with anything else. Make sure you use the powder version. (If you only have access to whole psyllium husks, you can grind the husks in a high-speed blender or coffee grinder until you get a fine powder).

• Baking Soda: Since Irish brown soda bread is leavened with baking soda, this is an important ingredient.

• Baking Powder: In addition to baking soda, we’re also using baking powder to help the dough rise even more. If you have Celiac disease or are gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free baking powder.

• Maple Syrup: I like using maple syrup to sweeten this Irish brown soda bread. Alternatively, you may use molasses or agave nectar. If you are not vegan, you may also use honey instead.

• Dairy-Free Buttermilk: To help the batter rise, we need to create an acidic environment, and the sourness of the buttermilk will do just that. If you don’t have buttermilk, simply combine 2 cups non-dairy milk (such as almond milk or cashew milk) with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for a while. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, you may use normal buttermilk instead. I like to warm the buttermilk a little before adding it to the dry ingredients for best results.

• Sunflower Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it on hand. Alternatively, you may also use another vegetable oil such as olive oil, avocado oil, or melted coconut oil.

How to Make Irish Brown Bread (Step by Step):

1. Preheat and Line

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a medium cast iron skillet or baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Whisk Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown rice flour, millet flour, sorghum flour, psyllium husk powder, baking soda, and baking powder together. Whisk well to combine.

3. Add Wet Ingredients to Form Dough

Add the maple syrup, warm dairy-free buttermilk, and sunflower oil to the large bowl of dry ingredients. Mix well to get a thick but homogeneous dough (dough will be slightly stick but that’s fine).

4. Shape Dough into Ball

Shape the Dough into a ball and place on the prepared lined cast iron skillet or baking sheet.

5. Cut a Cross on Top of Dough

Cut a deep cross on the top of the dough (use a smooth-edged sharp knife to slice 2 perpendicular lines on top of the dough).

6. Bake Until Golden Brown

Bake the dough for approximately 50 minutes until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

7. Cool Completely Before Slicing

Let the loaf of delicious brown bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing into it.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Add Raisins/Nuts: If you wish, you may fold raisins or chopped nuts into the dough for extra flavor and texture.

• Make it Savory: If you prefer not to have a sweet bread, feel free to leave out the maple syrup and add a pinch of salt instead.

Recipe FAQs:

Other Gluten-Free Bread Recipes You’ll Love:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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