May 12, 2010

Irish Soda Bread

holiday, quick bread, raisins, St. Patrick's Day Recipes

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44 ratings

Prep time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 55 to 60 minutes
Servings: 12

Grandma made this delicious bread to serve at weekend brunches and afternoon tea parties with the ladies.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup raisins or currants
1 large egg, beaten
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into large bowl. Stir in caraway seeds. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins.
3

Combine egg and buttermilk in medium bowl; beat until well combined. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture; stir until mixture forms soft dough that clings together and forms a ball. Turn out dough onto well-floured surface. Knead dough gently 10 to 12 times.
4

Place dough on prepared baking sheet. Pat dough into 7-inch round. Score top of dough with tip of sharp knife, making an X about 4 inches long and 1/4 inch deep. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Remove bread from baking sheet; cool on wire rack.

Grandma's Secret Trick

When Grandma did not have buttermilk on hand, she would substitute with sour milk she made herself. Grandma would place 2 tablespoons lemon juice and enough fresh milk to equal 1 3/4 cups in a 2-cup measure. She stirred the mixture and let it stand 5 minutes before using it.