Easy Fruit Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 450 g plain white flour ((see Note 1))
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste (see Note 2))
• 1 teaspoon baking soda ((see Note 3))
• 3 tablespoons light soft brown sugar
• 150 g mixed dried fruit ((see Note 4))
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 250 ml milk ((see Note 5))
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice ((roughly 1 lemon – see note 5))

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 180C / 160C fan / gas mark 4 / 350F. Dust a non-stick baking tray with a little plain white flour.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, mix together thoroughly the flour, salt, baking soda, sugar, mixed spice and cinnamon. Add the mixed dried fruit and stir again.

3. 3

   In a jug, mix together the milk and lemon juice.

4. 4

   Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

5. 5

   Bring the dough together into a ball using your hands. The dough should just come together into a ball, but shouldn’t be wet and sloppy. (If it doesn’t all come together, add a splash of water. If it’s too wet and sloppy add a touch more flour.)

6. 6

   Roll the dough into a ball and place on your prepared baking tray. (Try to avoid having too much fruit on the outside as it has a tendency to burn before the bread in the centre is fully cooked.)

7. 7

   Flatten the ball a little and then cut a deep cross into it. The cross should go almost to the base of the loaf – but not quite!

8. 8

   Sprinkle the loaf with a little plain white flour.

9. 9

   Bake the loaf in your pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes, until cooked all the way through and golden on top.

10. 10

    Ideally, serve warm – straight out of the oven!