Marzipan, Cherry & Orange Blossom Sweet Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 200 g plain flour (+ a little extra to sprinkle on top)
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 20 g caster sugar
• 50 g marzipan
• 50 g glacé cherries
• 1 tsp orange blossom water
• 140 ml buttermilk

Instructions

1. 1

   Pre-heat your oven to 220ºC/200ºC fan.

2. 2

   Chop the glacé cherries (50g) in halves and coarsely grate the marzipan (50g).

3. 3

   Put all of the dry ingredients into a large bowl (200g plain flour, ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda, 20g caster sugar, grated marzipan and chopped cherries). Give them a good mix.

4. 4

   Add the orange blossom water (1 tsp) and buttermilk (140ml) and stir until fully combined.

5. 5

   Form the dough into a ball and place it onto a baking tray. Sprinkle a little flour on top and then use a sharp knife to cut slits into a cross shape on top.

6. 6

   Put the bread into the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Loosely cover the bread with foil (to stop the top burning) and return it to the oven for a further 20 minutes.

7. 7

   Check the loaf is cooked by tapping the bottom, it should sound hollow. If it doesn't pop it back into the oven (still covered in foil) for a few more minutes.

8. 8

   Once cooked, place the bread on a wire rack to cool.