Irish Soda Bread

So many variations on this bread, some with raisins, some without.

Irish Soda Bread is a staple at my house, on St. Patrick's Day, though I've been known to fix it throughout the year just because we enjoy it.

Again, the recipes are varied, you can find numerous online, in cookbooks and even handed down from generation to generation.

The one I use is for a very basic Irish Soda Bread and it was given to me by a friend many years ago, she jotted down the ingredients and a very basic how to on the back of an envelope, and to this day I have it in my drawer with the rest of my recipes.

She never told me what size pan to use, and the first time I made it I used a baking sheet but the bread flattened out a bit too much for my liking....since then I have made it in my 8 inch round cake pan and it works just fine.

Irish Soda Bread

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 and 1/3 cups buttermilk
Raisins - optional

Sift all the dry ingredients into a bowl.  Add in the buttermilk and the raisins and stir together until well combined.

Dump the mixture onto a floured board and knead for a few seconds until smooth.  (Do not overknead).  Shape into a ball.

Line the bottom of an 8 inch pan with parchment paper.  Place the ball of dough in the middle of the pan, using a serrated knife make an X on the top, about 1/4 inch deep.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.