Irish Soda Bread

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease two 9” round cake pans.

  •  4-41/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp soda
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 Cup sugar
  • 3/4 Cup butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 Cup buttermilk
  • 2 Cups raisins or currants

In a large bowl mix together flour, salt, soda, baking powder, and sugar until thoroughly blended

Cut in cold butter.  I gliterally take my hands and just break it into the dry ingredients by crumbling it through my fingers until fully mixed into the flour mix. (Do not melt the butter)

Add raisins and toss until coated with flour/butter mix.

Beat the eggs slightly and add them to buttermilk
Stir the buttermilk/egg mixture into the dry mixture until blended.
Turn the mixture out onto floured board
Knead until smooth (2-3 minutes)
Divide the dough into 2.  Shape each half into a smooth round loaf.
Place in the greased cake pans.  Press down until dough fills the pan.

My sister makes this recipe and uses a glass lasagna pan.  She greases it and places both loaves in one pan.Use a sharp knife to mark tops of each with an X
Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes