Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 4 c all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cane sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp Irish butter
• 1/2 c raisins
• 1 egg
• 2 c buttermilk

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

2. 2

   Stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda and...: Stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt

3. 3

   Use your hands to mix in the butter

4. 4

   Toss the raisins in the dry ingredients and...: Toss the raisins in the dry ingredients and make a well in the center of the bowl

5. 5

   Measure out the buttermilk in a measuring glass,...: Measure out the buttermilk in a measuring glass, then add in the egg and stir it together

6. 6

   Pour this in the well you made, leaving...: Pour this in the well you made, leaving just a little in the measuring glass (for brushing on the bread before baking)

7. 7

   Make your hand into a claw and mix...: Make your hand into a claw and mix together the dry and wet ingredients until it comes together

8. 8

   If you need more buttermilk just add a...: If you need more buttermilk just add a splash at a time

9. 9

   Sprinkle a counter with flour and roll the...: Sprinkle a counter with flour and roll the dough out, use your hands to gently bring the dough together in a scooping motion but do not knead it or overwork it

10. 10

    Flip it over and do the same again,...: Flip it over and do the same again, then pat down to a thickness of 1 1/2"

11. 11

    Take a knife dipped in flour and score...: Take a knife dipped in flour and score the top with a deep x (this is the cross on the bread, the blessing)

12. 12

    Brush on the excess buttermilk/egg mixture

13. 13

    Bake at 425 for 20 minutes then reduce...: Bake at 425 for 20 minutes then reduce the heat to 400 and bake an additional 20 minutes

14. 14

    Serve right away