My Danish Kitchen

Irish Soda Bread

Sometimes my local grocery store have samples of Irish Soda Bread and I may be making a couple of passes by the baked goods section for a taste. So I have been eyeballing this Irish Soda Bread recipe for quite some time and I finally decided “this is it, today is the day” to make THE BREAD. The bread is delicious and so easy to make. It does feel a little odd that the dough is so wet but it cooked up perfectly. To me this bread is a little more like a cake. It is slightly sweet with a hint of orange flavor. I couldn’t find currants so I used dried cherries instead and that worked out great. Try it, you’ll like it.

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants

4 tbsp sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

4 tbsp (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken

1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp grated orange zest

1 cup dried currants or dried cherries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electrical mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low-speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low-speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour. Combine the currants (or cherries) with 1 tbsp flour and mix into the dough. The dough will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it a few times into a loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. When you tap on the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.

Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Irish Soda Bread

Source: Barefoot Contessa at Home