Irish Soda Bread – Beth O’Neill Longbridge

Beth O’Neill shares her Irish Soda Bread recipe.  She has been using this recipe since the 1970’s.  It was in a McCall’s cookbook.

Ingredients:

2 CUPS UNSIFTED FLOUR

2 TBSP SUGAR

2 TSP BAKING POWDER

1 TSP BAKING SODA

½ TSP SALT

3 TBSP BUTTER (SOFTENED)

1 CUP BUTTERMILK

½ CUP SEEDLESS RAISINS

1 TBSP CARAWAY SEEDS

Directions:

PRE HEAT OVEN TO 375 DEGREES F.

LIGHTLY GREASE COOKIE SHEET       

IN A LARGE BOWL SIFT FLOUR, SUGAR, BAKING POWDER AND BAKING SODA 

ADD CARAWAY SEEDS (OPTIONAL)

CUT IN SOFTENED BUTTER UNTIL GRAINY

ADD BUTTERMILK AND RAISINS   MIX WITH A FORK UNTIL ALL INGREDIENTS ARE MOISTENED

TURN OUT ON A LIGHTLY FLOURED BOARD. KNEAD UNTIL SMOOTH

SHAPE INTO A BALL AND CUT CROSSWISE INTO FOUR SECTIONS SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A CROSS. DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BALL.

BAKE 30-40 MINUTES UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN AND THERE IS A HOLLOW SOUND WHEN TAPPED WITH A FORK.

REMOVE FROM OVEN AND BRUSH WITH BUTTER AND DUST WITH FLOUR OR SUGAR.