Looking for Irish recipes for Saint Patrick's Day 2011? You're in luck! While many people are looking for corned beef and cabbage recipes, St Patty's Day is also known for its Irish Soda Bread and Bailey's Irish Cream.
The "green" holiday falls on Thursday, March 17 this year, which means you can wear green to work or school, or when looking for your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Because the Irish holiday falls on a weekday, you may not even want to cook or bake. That's when you get in the car and head to your local Irish pub for some yummy corned beef and cabbage and a pint of Guinness. And while you're out, stop by the bakery and pick up a loaf of Irish Soda Bread!
Irish Soda Bread Recipe
- 7 to 7 1/2 cups Unbleached white flour, sifted
- 2/3 cup Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
- 3 Tbsp Caraway seeds, optional
- 6 Tbsp Cold Butter (3/4 stick)
- 2 1/2 cups Raisins, Currants and/or Golden Raisins
- 1 3/4 cup Buttermilk
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 Tbsp milk or cream
How To Make Irish Soda Bread
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with vegetable spray.
- Sift flour into a large bowl and add sugar, salt, baking powder and caraway seeds.
- Cut in butter with a pastry blender until it looks like peas. You can also rub the butter into the flour with the palms of your hands. Keep your hands full of flour and with the butter in the middle, work it into what looks like small peas. Mix in raisins and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream and eggs. Add baking soda and mix.
- Fold the wet and dry ingredients together. Working with your hands, pull up all the dry ingredients from the bottom of the bowl and mix just enough to make sure all the dry ingredients are blended with the wet.
- Work the dough as little as possible. Add more flour if necessary to keep it from being sticky. The dough is ready when it holds together and and can be shaped.
- Divide into 3 or 4 round loaves and place on baking sheet. Do not flatten loaves. Brush with the yolk and cream mixture.
- Using a sharp knife, cut an X into the top of each loaf.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and knife comes out clean.
- Makes 3-4 loaves!
This recipe can also be made with a KitchenAid mixer, but you have to be real careful that you don't overwork the dough.
Lot's of Irish Recipes!
Your Irish Soda bread looks delicious. My mother used to make it for me and my brothers quite often. It was treat that we always looked forward to.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Cardini- Anderson | March 16, 2011 at 02:09 AM