Recipe: Antoine Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups unbleached flour with 2 cups whole wheat flour; optionall
- 4 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter melted
- tablespoon of molasses
- 12oz buttermilk - about 1½ cup
- 1 egg
- and a few drops of vanilla occasionally
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet or put down buttered wax paper;
Step 2
Melt ¾ cup of butter in a small pan over a low flame;
Step 3
Add tablespoon of Molasses to almost melted butter;
Step 4
Beat buttermilk and egg together in a medium measuring jug and then beat in melted butter and molasses;
Step 5
In a medium sized bowl [see step 8 ], mix together unbleached and whole wheat flours, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, oatmeal or bran;
Step 6
Remember that you're going to leave a bit less than ¼ cup of the mixed liquid ingredients to be brushed on before placing loaf in oven;
Step 7
Stir in the liquid -- saving that ¼ cup - using a blunt knife or thin spatula to 'cut' the ingredients together, pulling up the dry ingredients from the bottom of the bowl; Important: don't overwork the mixture
Step 8
If you've used a medium sized bowl with a nicely rounded bottom, you may be able to turn the 'loaf' out onto buttered wax paper placed on a cookie sheet or tray and knead slightly if loaf isn't yet holding together. otherwise, Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, kneading slightly if loaf isn't yet holding together, forming dough into a round, not too high, and then place on prepared baking sheet;
Step 9
Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf;
Step 10
Brush loaf with the remaining liquid ingredients mixture;
Step 11
Use your knife to re-cut the 'X' into the top of the loaf;
Step 12
Bake in preheated oven for 48 to 55 minutes (52 minutes is the time I use,or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
