{St. Patricks Day} Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread

Editor’s Note: This is our first of a series of posts on Saint Patrick’s Day food & tradition. One of our Guest Contributors, Erica G, has dropped in with her maternal grandmother’s Irish Soda Bread recipe. Yum. -Christina

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Saint Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays!  It’s all green (which is my favorite color) and it’s only about drinking and eating…no worrying about gifts or making sure you get to every family member for a visit, who doesn’t love it?  My Grandma Moran always baked Irish Soda Bread around the holiday, and in turn, so does my mom.  I decided this year (since FSC was doing an Irish theme week) to give the old family recipe a try!

Grandma Moran’s Irish Soda Bread
makes 2 – 8″ round loaves

4 cups flour*
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp baking powder
¼ cup sugar
2 cups currants**
¼ cup firm butter
1 egg
1 ¾ cup buttermilk

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar) in a large bowl.  Cut the butter into the dry mixture, and then add the currents.

In a smaller bowl beat the egg and mix in the buttermilk.

Combine the wet and dry mixture.  Knead the dough for 2-3minutes.

Divide the dough into 2 equal parts.  Flatten into two greased 8-inch round cake pans, and score a large X on the top of the dough.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

TIPS

*I used ½ all purpose flour and ½ whole-wheat flour.  The dough was a little more sticky than usual (like a cookie dough consistency more than a bread dough.)  I added all-purpose flour to the mixture while kneading the dough until it was the right consistency, about ¼ of a cup more.

**You can mix this up some with dried cranberries, apricots, mixed berries, or any other dried fruit.  Go crazy!

You can also freeze the bread and it thaws well.  Warm it up and enjoy it with some jelly or cream cheese, delicious!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK”S DAY!  Enjoy the day with drink, food and family!