Irish Soda Bread
Why I Love This Recipe
This is the first loaf of bread I had ever made. It is perfect for beginners because it gets it's lift from baking soda and baking powder, instead of yeast. It is a slightly sweet bread, so breakfast or tea would be the best time for serving it.
Ingredients You'll Need
4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 stick of butter
2 cups of raisins or currants
1 1/3 cups of buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons honey
sugar, for decoration
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Sift together the flour, sugar, salt, sugar and baking powder.
Rub in butter until corse mixture is formed (small chunks of butter are supposed to be left in dough).
Add raisins or currants and lightly fold into mix.
In a medium bowl, stir together buttermilk, baking soda, egg, and honey.
Add the liquid mixture into flour mixture gradually, stirring until a wet dough forms.
Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead for 1-2 minutes.
Shape into a ball and place on an un-greased cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with sugar and cut a deep cross in the center of the dough ball.
Bake for 20-30 minutes (bread is temperamental depending on temperature of the oven, watch it very closely) or until golden brown.
