Wholesome Irish Soda Bread
Yield: One 2-pound loaf
Degree of difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 1 Hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients
3 ⅔ cups (500 g) Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour
1 ¼ teaspoon (10 g) Baking soda
2 teaspoons (8 g) Kosher salt
2 tablespoons (30 g) Sugar
6 tablespoons (85 g) Butter, melted
2 cups (454 g) Buttermilk, room temperature
1 Large egg, room temperature
Additional Wholesome Flour for dusting
½ cup (75 g) Raisins or currants (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and position rack in the center of the oven.
- Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet or heavy sauté pan in the oven to preheat while preparing the dough.
- Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in skillet. Parchment should be slightly oversized so that it comes up the sides of the pan.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix to thoroughly distribute all ingredients.
- Beat egg and buttermilk together in a separate bowl, once combined add dry ingredients.
- Add raisins or currants if you’re using them.
- Mix on medium low speed, stopping periodically to scrape down the sides of bowl with a rubber spatula, until the dough is cohesive and thick.
- Remove skillet from oven and place on a trivet on the counter. Place circle of parchment paper inside skillet.
- Use a rubber spatula to move dough to the skillet in a 7-inch diameter mound in the center. Wet your hands and gently shape and smooth dough to a uniform dough shape. Take care to avoid contacting the pan with your hands while doing so. Alternatively, you may form dough on a parchment lined sheet pan for ease.
- Dust the mound of dough liberally with Wholesome Flour.
- Use a sharp knife to cut a cross pattern into the top of the loaf about ½-inch deep.
- Return pan to the oven and bake for one hour or until a wooden skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center.
- Cool bread until warm on a wire rack before slicing.