Irish Soda Bread
I'm not going to lie, I'm really excited it is finally spring! This winter has seriously been the toughest one I can remember. The whole winter is just a blur of gray days and snow and gloominess in my memory. I'm so ready for warmer days and sunshine and spending all our time outside. St. Patrick's Day is always the gateway to spring for me, and this year I went all out (for me, anyway). I bought the kiddos cute green shamrock shirts, I bought shamrock stickers to decorate my husband's ID tag for work (he was worried about being pinched), I made Guinness beef stew in the slow cooker for dinner, and I whipped up a batch of this delicious Irish soda bread as a side. I've been making soda bread for years, but this was the first time I've tried a sweet variation instead of a savory one, and it was fantastic! It was a favorite with the whole family. My girls ate it toasted the next morning with butter and cinnamon sugar, and loved it. Yum!
Irish Soda Bread
4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 cup raisins
6 tablespoons cold butter
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
Preheat the oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone liner and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, orange zest, and raisins. Grate the butter into the bowl and toss to mix. Whisk together the buttermilk and egg, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Mix until a soft shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into a ball and score an X on the top of the dough ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake 45-55 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
adapted from Life is but a Dish
Read more..