Aunt Kathys Irish Soda Bread Recipes

MARILYN O'REILLY'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt and stir well to mix.
• Add the butter and rub in until the butter disappears into the dry ingredients.
• Stir in the caraway seeds if used and the raisins.
• In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg together and mix into the dough mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Turn the dough out on a floured work surface and fold it over on itself several times, shaping it into a round loaf. Transfer the loaf to one cookie sheet or jelly roll pan covered with parchment or foil and cut a cross in the top. Bake for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes more, until well colored and a toothpick plunged into the center emerges clean.
• Cool the soda bread on a rack and serve with plenty of sweet butter and bitter orange marmalade.

AUNT KATHY'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a heavy pan.
• Mix flour, sugar, raisins, caraway seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and milk to the flour mixture; stir until evenly incorporated. Transfer dough to the prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until when the bread is tapped on top it sounds hollow, about 75 minutes.