Cheddar Irish Soda Bread

By mitzzy

This is rustic bread, nicely shot through with nippy Cheddar cheese streaks and a few sweet raisins. The combination of cheese in this traditional hearth bread keeps its old-fashioned tone but nicely freshened with cheese addition.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raisins, plumped
• 2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, diced
• 1 1/2 cups sharp orange Cheddar, shredded
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups buttermilk

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 F. Double up two baking sheets and line top one with parchment paper. Prepare raisins by plumping in very hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain, dry well and set aside.

In a large mixer, bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. Cut butter into dry ingredients by hand (or with the paddle or hook on a mixer at slow speed). Add cheddar cheese and disperse and then add in most of the buttermilk and mix to form a soft dough. Turn out onto floured work surface and gently knead 8 times or so, to firm up dough. Let rest 10 minutes.

Shape into a 8 or 9 inch round. Place on baking sheet.

Score loaf with a knife (1/2 inch deep cuts) to make a cross. Dust with additional cheddar cheese.

Bake 35-45 minutes until well-browned.

Cool on a rack.
Serves 6-8