Finnish Soda Bread Championships

Got a legendary family soda bread recipe?

Finnish Soda Bread Championships

Think you can make delicious Irish soda bread? Now’s your chance to find out!
Bring along your homemade soda bread and enter the Finnish Soda Bread Championships.

A friendly judging panel will taste all the entries live on stage between 17:30–18:00, and the winner will take home a prize and be crowned the 2026 Finnish Soda Bread Champion! Don’t worry if you’re not a professional baker, this is all about having fun and trying your hand at a traditional Irish classic.

 Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:

Dry ingredients:

  • 200g wholegrain flour (Grahamjauho)

  • 275g white flour (Erikoisvehnäjauho)

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • Pinch of salt


Wet ingredients:

  • 350ml buttermilk (Kirnupiimä)

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tsp honey

Method:

  1. Sift the flours and combine all dry ingredients.

  2. Mix all wet ingredients in a separate bowl.

  3. Slowly add wet ingredients to the dry, mixing with a wooden spoon or your hands.

  4. Form a round loaf, cut a cross on top, and dust with oats.

  5. Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C for ~35 minutes.

It’s simple, tasty, and a perfect way to get involved in this fun, hands-on festival challenge. Come bake, share, and maybe even claim the crown of Finland’s best soda bread!

Finnish soda bread championships - Helsinki Irish Festival