Want a little something sweet to munch on but don’t want to put in a ton of effort? Love any carb that you can slather with delicious butter? Feeling like you could use a little extra luck in baking? Make my awesome Irish Soda Bread! Probably a bit more American than Irish, but hey, so am I!
- 2/3 cup Raisins
- 1 tablespoon Triple Sec, Grand Marnier or Orange Juice
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 4 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 pinch of salt
- 4 tablespoons Butter – cold, diced
- 1 cup Buttermilk (I put 1 tablespoon White Vinegar in a measuring cup and add Milk to make 1 cup. Let sit 5 minutes)
- 1 tablespoon All Purpose Flour
- 1 tablespoon Demerara or Sparkling Sugar
- Preheat oven to 375 and brush a pie pan with oil or use cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, combine the raisins and Triple Sec. Let sit while you make the dough.
- In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or by hand with a wooden spoon, mix the 2 cups flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, a pinch of salt and the butter. You want the butter to be pea sized bits.
- Add the buttermilk and mix until a dough forms – it will be shaggy and wet – don’t worry it will taste great!
- Drain any extra liquid from the raisins into the dough. Toss the raisins in with the 1 tablespoon of flour until the raisins are coated – this will keep them evenly distributed in the dough. Mix the raisins into the dough – this should take about 10 seconds.
- Dump the dough into the prepared pie pan. Gently make into a ball and then flatten to about 2 inches thick. Using a knife or bowl scraper, push a deep X into the dough, going edge to edge. It should go almost all of the way to the bottom.
- Sprinkle with the Demerara Sugar and slide into the oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes, then let cool in the pie pan for about 10 minutes. Cut a slice, slather with butter and enjoy your baking prowess!