Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus 1 cup additional for kneading)

• 4 tablespoons sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 tablespoon cold butter, cubed

• 1/4 cup TAO Orange Pressato Olive Oil

• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

• 1 egg

• 1 cup raisins

• 1 cup TAO Black Mission Fig Balsamic Vinegar

• raw sugar for sprinkling

Directions

1. Place raisins with balsamic in a bowl and let soak for at least one hour. 

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the cubed butter and olive oil. Mix with your hands, breaking the butter into tiny pieces until fully incorporated.

3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with the buttermilk. Add the buttermilk mixture and the drained raisins to the flour mixture. On a floured surface, knead the dough with your hands, adding additional flour as needed, into a round loaf. Place dough on a baking sheet lined with greased parchment paper. Cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf. Sprinkle with raw sugar. 

4. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the loaf. The loaf should sound hollow when you tap it. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.