Irish Soda Bread

by the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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Publications International, Ltd., the Editors of.  "Irish Soda Bread."  31 August 2006.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/irish-soda-bread-recipe.htm>  12 October 2008.

Irish Soda Bread Photo
Irish Soda Bread
Yield: Makes 12 servings
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Ingredients:
4
cups all-purpose flour

1/4
cup sugar

1
tablespoon baking powder

1
teaspoon baking soda

1
teaspoon salt

1
tablespoon caraway seeds

1/3
cup shortening

1
cup raisins or currants

1
egg

1-3/4
cups buttermilk*



Preparation:
1.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease large baking sheet; set aside.

2.
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into large bowl. Stir in caraway seeds. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins. Beat egg in medium bowl. Add buttermilk; beat until well blended. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture; stir until mixture forms soft dough that clings together and forms a ball.

3.
Turn out dough onto well-floured surface. Knead dough gently 10 to 12 times. Place dough on prepared baking sheet. Pat dough into 7-inch round. Score top of dough with tip of sharp knife, making an "X" about 4 inches long and 1/4 inch deep.

4.
Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Immediately remove from baking sheet; cool on wire rack.** Bread is best eaten the day it is made.
**For a sweet crust, combine 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon water in small bowl; brush over hot loaf.





This recipe appears in: European