Spiced Christmas Bread with Dried Figs without Yeast (Christmas Soda Bread)
This spiced bread with dried figs is my Christmas version of the Irish soda bread, an Irish bread without yeast, because it is free of brewer’s yeast, it is prepared in 15 minutes, perfect to enjoy both as a sweet and savory preparation. It has a crispy crust and very soft and compact crumb, with few holes.
I decided to include the Irish soda bread among my Christmas recipes, because it is a quick and easy recipe without yeast that encapsulates all the flavors and aromas of Christmas (cinnamon, orange, star anise) and can easily replace the classic Panettone for those who don’t want to or have time to attempt a complex leavened preparation with long and delicate fermentation (or simply, are not familiar with leavened goods).
The Christmas Soda Bread is a rich and soft bread, delicious and aromatic, that perfectly pairs with the mix of Christmas flavors of orange, cinnamon, star anise, and dried figs (previously softened in rum). Ideal to consume at breakfast or as a snack, spread with butter and jam (perhaps fig jam) or honey.
The secrets to a perfect soda bread are: work the dough very little and bake immediately.
If you are looking for recipes (sweet or savory) for your Christmas menu, click on my “Christmas/New Year Special“
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 6 people
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Irish
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients for the Spiced Christmas Bread with Dried Figs without Yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (I use Total Fage 5%)
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons orange juice (or lemon)
- 5 tbsp butter (cold and diced)
- 1 egg (whole)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup dried figs
- 1 tsp star anise (powder)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder (for sweets)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 1 tbsp orange zest (grated, about 3 oranges)
- 1/3 cup rum (to soften the dried figs)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar (for dried figs)
- as needed whole star anise (for garnish, optional)
- as needed cinnamon sticks (for garnish, optional)
Tools for the Spiced Christmas Bread with Dried Figs without Yeast
- Bowl
- Knife
- Stand Mixer
- Springform Pan for Panettone 18 cm
Steps for the Spiced Christmas Bread with Dried Figs without Yeast
Take the dried figs and soak them for 5 minutes in boiling water, then transfer them to a bowl with 100 ml of hot water, 80 ml of rum, and 1 tablespoon of sugar and soften them for 15 minutes. After the indicated time, cut the figs into cubes (not too thin).
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Take a bowl and mix well the milk and yogurt at room temperature (NOT from the fridge) with 2 teaspoons of orange juice (or lemon), the orange zest and set aside for 15 minutes.
In the bowl of the stand mixer (but you can easily knead everything by hand, I use the stand mixer for my convenience) pour: the flour, cinnamon, star anise, sugar, baking powder, and salt, add the cold butter in cubes and quickly work with the paddle attachment (or with your fingertips) until you get large crumbs, add the whole egg, the chopped and drained figs, and finally the reserved liquids, and the baking soda, and quickly work with the paddle attachment BUT not too much, just enough to combine all the ingredients well, the dough will be quite sticky. Once the dough is ready, it is important to bake it immediately, without delaying, because the baking soda starts acting immediately.
Take an 18 cm springform pan, grease it well with butter and flour it, and with slightly floured hands, gently transfer the dough into the buttered mold and shape it into a loaf, then with a sharp knife, make a cross cut on the surface and bake it in a static oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 50 minutes (check cooking with a toothpick). If you prefer the sweet version, before baking, you can sprinkle the surface with brown sugar.
Remove the Christmas bread from the oven, let it cool well and then unmold it onto a serving plate and garnish with cinnamon sticks, star anise, and Christmas decorations.
You can increase the amount of dried figs and leave some whole (previously flavored by soaking in rum and sugar) to accompany the slices of Christmas bread.
The soda bread is best if eaten the same day, but it still keeps for a day or two closed in a bread bag. You can also freeze it in slices.
Notes and Tips
You can also use other dried fruits and spices (e.g.: dried apricots and cardamom). Or sultanas, dates, walnuts, or try it with apple cubes.
The Christmas Irish soda bread, can be tried in a sweet or savory version: better if eaten freshly baked or by slightly toasting the thick slices and spreading them with either jam or honey (in the sweet version) or with blue cheese or spreadable cheese (in the savory version).
It can also be prepared in an integral version (Brown Soda Bread) replacing the same flour dose.
My soda bread is with yogurt, without buttermilk.
Shopping Tips
To knead perfectly and conveniently, I often use also myTitanium Chef Patissier XL stand mixer with 7L EasyWarm bowl, built-in scale, and blender, a faithful ally in the kitchen for: kneading, weighing, whipping, cooking, mincing, pasteurizing eggs. You find this stand mixer on Amazon at a special price! #adv
If you are looking for a more economical and smaller stand mixer model with a 4-liter bowl, you can easily choose to purchase theKenwood KVC7300S Chef Titanium Stand Mixer, with built-in lighting and the rubber whisk and pastry spatula included. #adv
This Springform Pan with Closure for Panettone 18.5 cm in diameter is perfect for baking this Christmas soda bread, you can find it on Amazon. #adv
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What is Irish soda bread?
A traditional Irish bread without yeast very tasty and fragrant, practical and quick because it doesn’t require the rising times typical of yeast bread. Ideal to consume at breakfast or tea time with butter and jam. It is called so because it involves the use of baking soda (in Ireland, “bread soda”) as a leavening agent.
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of buttermilk?
Yes! Mix ¾ of a cup of Greek yogurt with ¼ of a cup of milk, add a few drops of lemon (or orange) juice and let it rest for at least 15 minutes.
What are the origins and history of Soda bread?
Although soda bread is attributed to Ireland, it was actually first created by Native Americans. They were the first to be documented using pearl ash, a natural form of soda formed from wood ash, to leaven bread without yeast.
Later, the Irish discovered and replicated the process. Although it seems like an ancient recipe, the history of Irish soda bread began in the 1830s, when baking soda was first introduced to the country. At the time, due to widespread famine (the ‘Great Irish Famine’), bread had to be made with the simplest and cheapest ingredients available.
Irish soda bread was an integral part of everyday life in almost every home, and this quick and practical bread has stood the test of time (see article).
