Irish Soda Bread

For the little bit of Irish in us all – no St. Patty’s day is complete without this traditional bread.  Enjoy warm with your Irish dinner or toast and butter for breakfast.  This loaf feeds a crowd and it will keep for days!  Start a tradition today…

Irish Soda Bread:

5 c. all-purpose flour + more for kneading

1/2 c. white sugar

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1/3 c. regular raisins

1/2 c. golden raisins

1 1/2 c. milk

1/3 c. apple cider vinegar

2 eggs

3 T. melted butter

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, apple cider vinegar and 2 T. melted butter.  Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and mix to combine.  Stir in raisins – Batter will be wet.  If your raisins are dry, soak them in warm water and drain before adding.

Flour a work surface.  Turn out dough and knead, adding flour when dough is too sticky to work.  Knead for a about 2 minutes or until dough is smooth.  Place dough ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush top of dough with the remaining 1 T. melted butter and with a sharp knife, slice an “X” on the top of the dough. Bake in the middle of the oven for 45 minutes or until an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.  Serve warm… let the festivities begin!