Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold butter (1 stick of salted)
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup currant (or you can use raisins)
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions

1. 1

   Sift flour, 1/3 cup of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.

2. 2

   Cut in butter with 2 knives until you get coarse crumbs. (by hand works better than the knives).

3. 3

   Add buttermilk and currants together in a separate bowl then mix into dry ingredients.

4. 4

   Turn out dough onto floured board or counter, knead about 12 times.

5. 5

   Shape into round loaf, 2-1/2 inches thick. Place on greased baking sheet. (I line my sheet with aluminum foil and spray that instead…less mess!) Cut deep 1/2-inch cross in top of dough.

6. 6

   Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoons sugar.

7. 7

   Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.