Irish Soda Bread

By Zopmama

"A good old fashioned soda bread with just the basic ingredients. Buttermilk gives this crusty loaf a good flavor. The best Irish soda bread around!"

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, cold and chunked
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup raw sugar

Details

Servings 1
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 65mins
Adapted from allrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt. Cut-in butter, then rub in hands to slightly warm. Stir in raisins then make a well in middle of mixture.

Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly, until just formed. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Then sprinkle with raw sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes.

You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture and sprinkle with more raw sugar while it bakes.