Irish Soda Bread was a staple in most Irish people's lives in the 1800's. There wasn't a lot of money or ingredients so the bread was made by using baking soda as a leavening agent instead of regular yeast, so this recipe is perfect for a yeast free lifestyle or if you are finding it hard to find Yeast in the store. This created the bread quicker and it was an easier ingredient to have on hand. The problem was that the Irish Soda Bread recipe didn't have much flavor if any. But times have changed and you can find many different versions made with spices and dried fruit. The texture of the soda bread is like a scone or biscuit with a softer interior.