Irish Soda Bread Recipe

~This bread bakes up the best using a greased and floured cast iron skillet

Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Sift together in Large bowl:
(use a very large bowl, as you will be kneading 'in' the bowl)

5 cups plain flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
5 tsp baking powder

Next, add to flour mixture:
3 Tbsp. Caraway Seeds
2 1/2 cups raisins *

Pour in 2 1/2 cups of buttermilk
add a bit more, by teaspsoons, if it seems too dry.
pour 3 Tbsp melted butter into mixture.

Knead all ingredients gently in your bowl.
dough will be a little sticky.
Add flour - a little at a time - until it is the right consistency.
Knead dough to form a neat ball.
you don't need to remove dough from bowl because the ingredients will mix very well.

Place dough in skillet.
Pat down.
Cut 4 slits across the top.

Bake at 300 - 325 degrees for at least 1 hour.
Bake until bread is light brown and just is pulling away from sides of skillet.

Cool on rack, wrapped in a towel to absorb any excess moisture.
We use the (cotton) flour sack towels.

To Store:
wrap tightly in foil or plastic and seal in large plastic storage /freezer bags.

*raisins are optional


Diary of a Kentucky Cook