Content and delicious recipe provided by Chocolate Carousel ~
St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching and so our thoughts go immediately to green beer and corned beef and cabbage. But what about the other St. Patrick’s Day staple, the Irish Soda Bread? In the bakery world Irish Soda bread takes center stage this time of year. The basis of Irish Soda bread, the “soda”, is actually sodium bicarbonate or baking soda which is used as the leavening agent instead of a traditional yeast bread. This along with the buttermilk in the recipe creates a reaction that forms tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide during the baking process. Traditionally folks add raisins, caraway seeds or even nuts to this St. Pat’s treat. At Chocolate Carousel we love to add, you guessed it, chocolate chips to ours and switch out the raisins for dried cranberries for an interesting twist. Of course, we honor tradition with the traditional version as well.
Irish Soda bread is a type of quick bread since there is not a waiting time for the dough rise and it bakes up as a much denser bread than a yeast based bread. When made without raisins it pairs nicely with stews and corned beef & cabbage. Of course, it’s a sweeter form it’s amazing served warm with a pat of butter!
Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk
In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg and raisins. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Bake at 375 for 35-45 minutes until crusty and browned.
Lisa Porada is the owner and executive pastry chef at Chocolate Carousel in Wall, NJ. Tune in on Wednesdays at noon on https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateCarouselDessertShoppe to watch and interact with Lisa as she demonstrates fun and creative recipes and techniques Live on Facebook.
