Irish Soda Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the counter
• 1 cup cake flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup raisins (optional) or 1 cup currants (optional)

Recipe

• 1 adjust an oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat oven to 400°.
• 2 line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray generously with vegetable oil spray.
• 3 whisk the flours, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt together in a large bowl.
• 4 work 2 tablespoons of the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 5 stir in the buttermilk (and raisins, if using) with a fork just until the dough begins to come together.
• 6 turn out onto a lightly floured counter.
• 7 knead just until the dough becomes cohesive and bumpy; about 30 seconds (do not knead until smooth).
• 8 pat the dough into a 6-inch round about 2 inches thick.
• 9 place on the prepared baking sheet.
• 10 cut an x into the top of the loaf using a serrated knife or clean razor blade.
• 11 bake until the loaf is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, about 40 to 45 minutes.
• 12 remove the loaf from the oven and transfer to a wire rack.
• 13 melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and brush over the top.
• 14 let the loaf cool for 1 hour.