Irish Soda Bread

Happy St. Patrick's Day

What a great day to celebrate your Irish heritage - even if you have to fake it.  My favorite ways to honor this wonderful day: green shamrock shaped pancakes, shamrock shakes from McDonalds and green beer. (I really don't like beer any other day but for some reason, if it's tinted green - it's much more appealing.)  I also made a few shamrock sugar cookies for the kids to share with their friends at school.  

This year, we are celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a little Irish Soda Bread.  I've been saving this recipe from bakeatmidnite.com for at least 6 months now.  I'm not sure why I felt like I could ONLY make it on St. Patrick's Day but for whatever reason -- I did. 

Easy Irish Soda Bread

2 cups bread flour
1/2 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment or lightly grease.  Set aside.

Rinse dried fruit using a strainer under hot water.  Place on paper towel to absorb excess water.

 
In the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Fit with dough hook and mix dry ingredients for about 1 minute.


Add the fruit.  

With mixer running, add the buttermilk gradually--using only enough to form a soft dough.  Knead for 1 minute.

  
Turn out the dough on a well-floured surface and shape into a round and place on prepared baking sheet.  With a sharp knife, cut an "x" about 1/4-inch deep on loaf. Sprinkle with additional flour if desired.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

 Slice and serve.

This is BY FAR the easiest bread recipe that I've ever made.  I had the dough mixed up and into the oven within 10 minutes!  There is no yeast which means that it doesn't have to proof before the baking process.  It goes right into the oven and viola - delicious Irish Soda Bread.  There's still time to make a loaf of Irish Soda Bread for your St. Patrick's Day dinner.  (It takes less than an hour - start to finish.)  I'm pretty sure that this is going to be mighty tasty with green beer too.

I also enjoyed a toasted slice of this bread for breakfast this morning with my cup of tea.  It makes really yummy toast too!
 

Ciao!