Irish Soda Bread Muffins

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: My satisfying Irish Soda Bread Muffins are wholesome, grab-and-go treats that deliver classic soda bread flavor in tender, muffin form. I spent time perfecting this recipe because Irish soda bread is often thought of as heavy and dense—these are anything but. By adding enough liquid to create a soft, drop-batter texture, the muffins bake up moist and tender while still tasting true to the traditional loaf. I’ve added raisins for a classic touch, but this recipe is easy to customize with other fruit, small frozen berries, or even chocolate chips. Perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day or an easy weekday breakfast.

• Hearty! Comforting Irish soda bread is so satisfying.
• Versatile: Raisins and orange zest are classic, but you can mix it up with fruit and nuts.
• Make with pantry staples: You probably have what you need on hand to bake these homey muffins.
• Ready in less than an hour: You’ll be spreading butter on a warm muffin in no time.
• Budget-friendly: At around 40 cents a muffin, these wholesome treats are a fraction of the cost of bakery versions.

As an expert Irish baker, I have made hundreds of loaves of soda bread, and as a kid growing up in Ireland, it’s in my blood! My Mum’s Irish Brown Soda Bread is a beloved Bigger Bold Baking favorite, and I love developing recipes to adapt traditional soda bread so we can enjoy it in new ways. My Irish Soda Bread Muffins are easy to grab and go, and they’re truly satisfying. These are heartier than typical cake-like fluffy muffins, and plump raisins and a hit of orange bump up the flavor.

My top tip for this recipe is to prepare your ingredients before starting. You want to bring this dough together quickly and get it into the oven fast. Getting the egg to room temperature, melting the butter, and measuring the ingredients ahead of time will streamline the process. You’ll also love Irish Soda Bread Scones, Simple White Irish Soda Bread, and 5-Minute Authentic Irish Brown Bread.

Table of Contents

• What Are Irish Soda Bread Muffins?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Substitutes
• How to Make Irish Soda Bread Muffins
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
• How to Serve Irish Soda Bread Muffins
• FAQs
• More Muffin Recipes

What are Irish Soda Bread Muffins?

Irish Soda Bread Muffins deliver the tangy flavor of traditional soda bread in tender muffin form. These quick treats are leavened with buttermilk and baking soda, enriched with butter and eggs, and lightly sweetened with granulated sugar and orange zest. Like Irish Soda Bread Scones, these muffins are a newer, portable twist on the beloved quickbread. These muffins are ideal for a Saint Patrick’s Day party, for breakfast, for tucking into the lunchbox, and for freezing to enjoy as a snack anytime.

Tools You Need

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Glass measuring jug
• Kitchen scale (optional)
• 12-cup muffin pan
• Paper liners
• Whisk
• Silicone spatula
• Wire cooling rack

Key Ingredients in Substitutes

All-purpose flour

• Using all-purpose flour gives the Irish soda muffins structure without making them too dense.
• If you want a muffin with a more robust texture, replace 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
• Substitutes: To make gluten-free muffins, replace the all-purpose flour with an equal amount of a gluten-free baking mix, such as my Easy Almond Flour Baking Mix or another gluten-free flour.

Granulated sugar

• Granulated sugar lightly sweetens the muffins and balances the tang of the buttermilk.
• Additionally, granulated sugar caramelizes, which aids in the browning.
• Substitute: You can use the same amount of light brown sugar. It will make softer muffins and add a caramel note.

Baking powder

• Baking powder gives the muffins extra lift, which gives them a lighter crumb.

Baking soda

• Baking soda reacts with the buttermilk to leaven the muffins.

Salt

• Salt enhances the flavor here. If you skip it, the muffins will taste flat.

Raisins

• Raisins (regular or golden) add sweetness, moisture, and pockets of jammy texture.
• Substitute: Use the same amount of currants or dried cranberries, or omit the fruit if you prefer.

Orange zest

• Orange zest adds a sweet citrus note and a delightful aroma.
• Substitute: Use lemon zest instead if you’d want a tarter flavor.

Egg

• The egg brings the ingredients together and contributes to the muffins’ structure.
• Additionally, the egg adds richness.
• Substitute: Instead of an egg, use 1/4 cup (2 oz/57 g) of yogurt. Note that the texture will differ from muffins made with the original recipe.

Buttermilk

• Buttermilk, which is acidic, reacts with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas, which forms tiny bubbles that provide lift and a tender texture.
• Importantly, buttermilk gives the Irish soda bread muffins their signature, deliciously tangy taste.
• Substitute: Use the same amount of Buttermilk Substitute.
  • You can also use yogurt thinned with milk until pourable.
  • Do not use regular milk instead of buttermilk. It will adversely affect the rise and the flavor. 

Butter

• Butterfat gives the muffins tenderness, richness, and flavor.
• Substitute: You can use an equal amount of a neutral vegetable oil, avocado oil, or olive oil (olive oil will add a subtle savory note).

Egg wash

• Egg wash (one egg whisked with a tablespoon of milk or water) gives the muffins glossy, golden-brown tops.
• Substitute: You can also brush the muffins with cream.

How to Make Irish Soda Bread Muffins

1. Prepare to bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins, and orange zest.
3. Whisk wet ingredients: In a measuring jug, whisk the egg, buttermilk, and melted butter together until smooth.

4. Combine: Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix.

5. Add batter to prepared pan: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin liners. Egg wash the top of the muffins.

6. Bake muffins: Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden, and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center of a few muffins comes out clean.

7. Cool muffins: Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW! 

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• Make a heartier muffin by replacing up to 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) of all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
• Add some flavorful crunch by tossing in 2 to 3 teaspoons of caraway seeds, a common ingredient in Irish Soda Bread, with your dry ingredients.
• Use either black or golden raisins in this recipe. Black raisins have a caramelized sweetness and a chewy texture, while golden raisins are tangier and plumper.
• Use what you like in these muffins. You can use currents, dried cranberries, or even chopped dates instead of raisins. If you want more texture, stir in some toasted, chopped walnuts.
• Use a cookie scoop if you’re finding it tricky to get the batter into the paper liners neatly with a spoon.
• Don’t worry if you’re out of buttermilk. It’s very easy to make a buttermilk substitute with my 2-ingredient recipe.
• Measure your ingredients carefully. Too much baking soda or too little buttermilk can give the muffins a bitter taste, and too much flour can make them dry.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make-ahead tips

• The muffins are best enjoyed the day they’re baked, but they will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
• For longer storage, these muffins can be wrapped individually, placed in a freezer bag, and kept in the freezer.
  • To defrost, unwrap, and microwave for about 30 seconds. You can also warm in a 350°F (180°C) oven for about 5 minutes.

How to store leftovers

• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.

How to Serve Irish Soda Bread Muffins

• These soda bread muffins are perfect with regular butter or Cranberry Orange Butter with an optional drizzle of honey.
• For more fruit flavor, spread the muffins with Orange Marmalade or Blackberry Jam.
• You’ll love these muffins with regular cream cheese or Light and Fluffy Whipped Cream Cheese.
• Fancy them up at tea time by serving with Clotted Cream.
• Of course, Irish soda bread muffins are a natural at breakfast along with yogurt and fruit, but they’re also lovely at lunch with a mug of soup.

FAQs

Can I make these muffins gluten-free?

• Yes, you can make these muffins gluten-free,
  • Replace the all-purpose flour with an equal amount of a gluten-free baking mix, such as my Easy Almond Flour Baking Mix or another gluten-free flour.
  • Additionally, ensure that all of the other ingredients are certified gluten-free.

How do I make soda bread muffins without an egg?

• To make the soda bread muffins without an egg, use 1/4 cup (2 oz/57 g) of yogurt.
  • Note that the texture will differ from muffins made with the original recipe.

How do I ensure that my muffins aren’t too dense?

• To ensure that your muffins aren’t too dense, mix only until the batter comes together. Overmixing develops too much gluten, making the muffins dense and tough.
• Make sure you use fresh baking soda and baking powder, and don’t skip the baking powder! That’s what elevates the texture from loaf-like to more cake-like.
• Be sure to immediately put the muffins in a pre-heated oven after mixing. Letting the batter sit adversely affects the rise.

More Muffin Recipes

• Banana Nut Muffins
• ABC Muffins
• Best-Ever Blueberry Muffins
• Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
• Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Try These Recipes!

Sheet Pan Pizza

Irish Soda Bread Scones

Date Nut Bread

English Muffin Bread