Catholic Recipe: Irish Soda Bread IV

Every region and every family in Ireland has their own version of soda bread, and often several recipes, depending on the type of occasion. There is the daily soda bread, and the Sunday and feast day bread. This version, full of raisins and sugar would definitely fall along the lines of the feast day Irish Soda Bread.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter two 9x5-inch bread pans.

Stir together the sifted flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Cut in the butter and mix very thoroughly with your hands until its gets grainy. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.

Add the buttermilk and egg to the flour mixture. Stir until well moistened. Shape dough into two loaves and place in the pans.

Bake for 1 hour. Test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool in the pans for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.