Try Your Luck of the Irish with Irish Soda Bread!

When I took the loaf out of the oven and I sent a picture to my mom with a caption”look how beautiful” – both of us love this bread an wonder why is it then that we only make it around St. Patrick’s day!?  Would it be as delicious and anticipated if I made it more throughout the year – not sure – but this is the year I am going to find out!  We had the bread plain, toasted with butter and as part of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

1/2 pound raisin or about 2 cups
4 cups flour (I used whole wheat and white wheat flour)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp (omit if using salted butter)
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 pound butter (1 stick)
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk (preferred) or milk

1. Place raisins in a glass bowl and add enough hot water to cover – let them sit 5 – 10 minutes to plump up.  Then drain.

2. Preheat oven to 375

3. In a large glass mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and raisins.

4. Cut cold butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or fork until it resembles cornmeal.

5.  Beat eggs lightly, add buttermilk and then mix with the flour mixture.  If it is too dry add some more buttermilk, a little at a time.

6. Turn out on floured surface and knead.  Shape into a round loaf and cut a cross on the top with a knife.

7. Bake in a greased cast iron skillet or 9 inch round cake pan for 1 hour.  Done when a knife comes out clean.

8. Place on wire rack to cool completely.

We enjoyed this plain, toasted and with almost all meals until it was gone!

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