Sweet Irish Soda Bread

By MJH

Ingredients

• 5 cups sifted all-purpose unbleached flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
• 2 1/2 cups mixed light and dark raisins, soaked in water for 15-20 minutes and drained
• 3 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• Turbinado sugar for sprinkling

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Generously butter 2 (9 by 5-inch) bread pans.

Stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

Cut in the butter and mix very thoroughly with your hands until it gets grainy.

Stir in the drained raisins and caraway seeds.

Add the buttermilk and egg to the flour mixture.

Stir until well moistened. The "dough" should resemble thick cake batter.

Equally fill 2 loaf pans. Then sprinkle the top of each with turbinado sugar to make it shimmery!

*Buttermilk can have different consistencies, depending on the brand.

If your dough is thicker than dense cake batter--don't worry!

Just shape it into loaves and place in the pans.

No need to add more liquid!

Bake for 60-70 minutes.

Test with a toothpick for doneness.

Cool in the pans for 3 to 5 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool.