Tasty Tuesday Demo on The Kansas CW

Irish Soda Bread


4 to 4 1/2 cups Flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 Tbsp butter
1 cups raisins
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 425.  Whisk together 4 cups of flour, the sugar, salt and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
2. Using two knives or a pasty blender work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles course meal, then add in the raisins. 
3. Make a well into the center of the flour mixture. Add beaten egg and buttermilk and mix with wooden spoon until too stiff to stir. Dust hands with flour then knead dough in the bowl just long enough to form a rough ball.  Transfer to a lightly floured surface and shape into a round loaf.  The dough will be a little sticky.  You want to work it just enough so that the flour is just moistened and the dough just barely comes together.  Don't over-knead. 
4. Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased baking sheet.  Using a serrated knife, score top of dough about an inch and a half deep in an "X" pattern. Bake 35-45 minutes until golden brown.