Irish Soda Bread

Although children are satisfied eating a green bagel on Saint Patrick’s Day, I always want to do something a little more traditionally Irish with them. So each year I make Irish Soda Bread with them to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

Irish soda bread is a soft textured cake like bread that rises due to the reaction of the acid of  buttermilk and baking soda. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, simply add vinegar to milk to create the necessary ingredient for the recipe.

I found this recipe in a former employer’s recipe box. The children love help making Irish Soda Bread and they always devour it quickly.

You Will Need:

3 tablespoons softened butter or margarine
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup raisins or currants
3/4 cup buttermilk or milk combined with 1 tablespoon of vinegar
A dusting of confectioners sugar

What to Do:

1. Heat oven to 375ºF.
2. Grease cookie sheet.
3. Cut butter into flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl, using pastry blender or crisscrossing two knives, until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
4. Stir in raisins and just enough buttermilk so dough leaves side of bowl.
5. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead one to two minutes or until smooth. Shape into round loaf.
6. Place on cookie sheet. Cut an X shape about 1/2 inch deep through loaf with floured knife.
7. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Once cooled, sprinkle confectioners sugar through a sifter over the bread.