St Paddys has come and gone with no soda bread in the oven. I visit this recipe yearly when spring looms on the horizon. A perennial family favorite, the thought of not making it saddens me. Since I have a carton of buttermilk, I shouldn't hesitate any longer. This particular soda bread has a cakier texture than most. It is also lighter and moist.
All purpose flour, baking soda, sugar and salt are whisked in a mixer bowl. Egg, buttermilk and orange zest are whisked in another bowl. Dried fruit like cranberries, golden raisins and dried cherries are whisked in a third bowl, along with a little flour. Yes there is butter....nothing good comes out of the oven without butter. Be resigned to this fact!
IRISH SODA BREAD WITH DRIED FRUIT
Makes 1 large loaf
4 cups AP Flour
4 tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
4 tablespoons cold Butter
1 3/4 cup Buttermilk, well shaken
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Orange Zest
1 1/2 cups mixed Dried Fruit - Dried Cranberries, Golden Raisins, Dried Cherries
1 tablespoon Flour
Heat oven to 375F.
Line a baking sheet with a silicone sheet or parchment paper.
Cut butter into 1/2 inch cubes.
Run the mixer on low speed and add butter to flour.
Mix buttermilk, egg and orange zest in a bowl. Whisk well till combined.
Add 1 tablespoon of flour to dried fruit and whisk till fruit is covered.
Add buttermilk to flour, pouring it in slowly.
Add dried fruit to dough.
Let the mixer keep going on low speed till the dough clumps together. It will be wet.
Scrape the dough on to a well floured surface.
Knead it lightly till dough comes together without sticking.
Gather dough onto a ball and place on prepared baking sheet.
Using a sharp knife make a cross on the top of the ball.
Bake in oven for 50-55 minutes.
Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
Slice with a serrated knife and enjoy.
St. Patrick's Day is a memory but Irish soda bread is an impression, one deeply entrenched in our minds and taste buds! Your palate has been whisked away to the Emerald Isles.
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