Today's recipe is:
Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread
- 4 cups all-purpose flour [ feel free to substitute some wheat flour for 1- 1.5 cups of the white AP]
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 TBSP baking powder
- 1/2 cup margarine, softened
- 1.5 cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
I plan to make all sorts of variations of this adding fruit and spices, or cheese. The possibilities are endless!
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet. [line with parchment paper]
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a flat, round cake, about 2 inches high, and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, melt butter; brush loaf with this. Use a sharp floured knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 38 minutes, or until lightly golden and sounds hollow when you tap on the bottom-- or a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.**If yours isn't getting golden, start toothpick testing every 2 minutes starting at 30 minutes. My friend's didn't ever get golden in color-- My theory is that this might be due to the buttered top?? So, if it looks firm and times up, just start testing for doneness, and don't wait on the color.**
- You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter while it bakes.
- Wrap loaf in tea towel immediately after removing from oven and let cool on a wire rack.