Irish Soda Bread

• 4 cups flour, plus extra for kneading
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced into 1/4" pieces
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk, plus 2 tablespoons for brushing the top of the bread
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1 heaping tablespoon caraway seeds

-Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a sheet pan with non-stick cooking

spray or line with parchment paper.

-Combine dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda and salt) in the bowl of your mixer.

-Add the diced butter to the dry ingredients and mix on a low speed until it is mixed into the flour.

-With a fork, lightly beat the egg and the buttermilk in a small bowl.

-With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the buttermilk/egg mixture into the flour mixture.

-Add raisins and caraway seeds and mix into the dough.

-Using a rubber spatula, scrape the dough out of the bowl and onto a well-floured board or counter

top. Knead the dough until it holds together and is no longer wet and sticky.

-Form the dough into a round disk and place it onto your sheet pan.

-Using a serrated knife, cut an "X" into the top of the loaf, about 1/2" deep.

-Brush the top of the bread with the additional buttermilk.

-Bake for 42 to 48 minutes. Test it by sticking a toothpick into the center--it's done if the toothpick

comes out clean.

-Serve warm, or place onto a wire rack to cool.