Irish Soda Bread With Raisins

One week from today is St. Patrick’s Day. A day when everyone is Irish because it is just such a fun Holiday with parades, music, dancing, Guinness and food! Lots of food! So, to kick off the celebration I made a simply delicious, quick Soda Bread that is a staple throughout that beautiful green Island. Served with morning or afternoon tea. Toasted or just warm from the oven with lots of butter and maybe some jam or Lemon Curd, this is just delightful! Traditionally, sugar is not added to Soda Bread, but I like a touch of sweet and feel it enhances the other flavors. This bread meets all my basic requirements of quick, easy and delicious!

Let’s start the celebration and build us some Irish Soda Bread and Erin go Bragh!

This is what we’ll need.

Irish Soda Bread With Raisins

A wonderful batter bread full of plump Raisins for sweet and Caraway Seeds for contrast, I absolutely love the flavors! Baked in a buttered round casserole bowl this is so easy to make and just lovely served hot from the oven with a good knob of Butter. Pre-heat oven to 350° Grease a 2 quart round casserole dish.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 1 hr 20 mins

Total Time 1 hr 45 mins

Servings 12 Servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 Cups AP flour
• 4 TBSP sugar
• 1 TBSP Baking Powder
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 3/4 Tsp Baking Soda
• 6 TBSP Butter
• 1-1/2 Cup raisins or dried Currants
• 1 TBSP Caraway Seed
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1-1/2 Cups Buttermilk *Substitute Sour Milk but the flavor will be a little different

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl combine the Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda and Salt.
  
• Cut Butter into small pieces and then using a pastry cutter, cut the Butter into the Flour mix until it looks like course crumbs.
  
• Like this.
  
• Stir in the Raisins and Caraway Seeds. Adding them at this point coats the Raisins and Seeds with Flour which keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the bread.
  
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs with a fork until combined. Remove 1 TBSP and reserve to brush over the top before baking.
• Combine the remaining Eggs and the Buttermilk. Stir into the Flour mixture with a heavy spoon just until combined
  
• The mixture will be sticky. Oh brother, will it ever be sticky! Don't worry, that's the way it's supposed to be and yes, your hands will be a mess.
  
• Scrape the batter out onto a well floured surface and with your hands, knead the batter about 12 times to get it all combined. See that mess on the counter top? Yep, it's sticky!
  
• Shape into a ball and carefully lift it into the greased casserole dish. With a very sharp knife, cut a "Cross" shape on the top. Brush the dough top with the reserved Egg and place it in the pre-heated 350° oven.
  
• Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove to a wire cooling rack and let rest for 10 minutes. ( Does this not look fabulous?)
  
• Remove from the baking dish. Slice with a serrated knife and serve warm with Butter. Sparky and I just devoured this Irish Soda Bread!
  
• I've always loved St. Patrick's Day. Being Irish and having the privilege of visiting the land of my people, this Holiday holds a special place in my heart. Ireland and the Irish people are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated. I'll be bringing you traditional Irish recipes all this week and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
• Thanks for stopping by today friends. Remember, to enjoy the journey and forget about the destination. We'll all get there soon enough. Journey on!
• Hugs and much love from me, Karen, TJG
• Please stop by my website and leave me a word! www.thejourneygirl.com

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