Irish Soda Bread
Hip Hip Hooray! It’s St. Patrick’s Day! And how else am I going to celebrate? The average person would probably recommend a variety of beer, Guinness concoctions and a side of corned beef and cabbage. Me however, I’ll be sitting back and enjoying a nice hot cup of Barry’s tea and a few slices of my family’s Irish Soda bread.
I don’t brag about much but this, THIS I do brag about. My great grandmothers Irish Soda bread is hands down the best soda bread out there. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and isn’t at all overwhelming. And it's actually easy to make!
This recipe will allow you to make two large loaves of bread or about four to six smaller loaves of bread, if you’re into sharing and that sort of friendly stuff. You begin by setting your oven to 350 degrees. I also would recommend greasing and flouring your pans before you start because your hands will be getting down and dirty by the end of this!
Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
Cut in the butter and mix into the dry ingredients with your hands until it has a similar consistency as coarse meal.
Mix in the raisins. I like to do half regular raisins and half golden raisins.
Once the raisins are mixed in evenly make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add 1 ¾ cups of buttermilk into the well.
Being to mix with a fork and/or floured hands pulling a little bit of dry ingredients in the center to mix with the buttermilk. When the mixture gets too think to continue to do with the fork start to mix everything together with your hands. Add buttermilk, as needed, until the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened and the dough is just at the point of becoming sticky and holds together.
Place the ball of dough on a flat, floured surface and being to knead lightly.
Shape the dough into equal loaves to fit your baking pans.
Place the dough in your heated oven for about 40 minutes, or until loaves start to brown lightly and the center of the bread tests done.
I recommend having a slice of the warm bread with a nice hot cup or Irish tea. It also goes very nicely with your favorite jam or spread. I love to have mine with rhubarb jam!
Enjoy!
Mary Cusack’s Irish Soda Bread Recipe:
6 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
0.5 cup sugar
0.75 cup cold butter
1 cup raisins
2 cups buttermilk (or a bit less)
Makes 2 large loaves or 4-6 small loaves
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and lightly flour your baking pans
2. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl
3. Cut in the cold butter and mix together with your hands until the mixture has a similar consistency as coarse meal
4. Mix in raisins
5. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add 1 ¾ cups of buttermilk and mix together with a fork and/or floured hands. Add additional buttermilk as needed until the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened and the dough is just at the point of becoming sticky, and holds together.
6. Place the ball of dough on a flat, floured surface and knead lightly.
7. Shape the dough into equal loaves to fit your baking pans.
8. Place in the heated oven for about 40 minutes or until loaves start to brown lightly and the center of the bread tests done.
9. Serve up plain or with your favorite spread! Enjoy!