Irish Soda Bread
This rustic quick bread becomes the perfect accompaniment to your daily coffee or tea.
Ingredients
- 1 cup currants
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 egg
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet or heavy bottomed pan with parchment.
- In a small bowl, add currants and orange juice. Let sit for at least 10 minutes and drain.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg, then add buttermilk and the drained currants.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients stirring until mixture forms a soft dough. Pour dough on to a floured surface and knead approximately 10-12 times. (If dough is too dry, add a little more buttermilk, if too wet, add a little more flour.) Form a round and place dough on prepared pan. Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife making a large X about ½ inch deep.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from baking pan and cool on a wire rack.