Irish Soda Bread

20 min
1 hrs 15 min
1 loaf

INGREDIENTS:

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 5 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup Crisco® Butter Shortening
• OR 1/2 stick Crisco® Butter Shortening Sticks, cut into cubes, room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups raisins
• 2 - 3 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg

PREPARATION DIRECTIONS:

1. 1.
   HEAT oven to 350ºF. Generously spray a 10-inch round, heavy ovenproof skillet with no-stick cooking spray.


2. 2.
   WHISK together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in an extra-large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.


3. 3.
   WHISK buttermilk and egg in medium bowl until blended. Using a wooden spoon, stir into flour mixture just until incorporated (dough will be very sticky).


4. 4.
   TRANSFER dough to prepared skillet. Smooth top, mounding slightly in center. Using small sharp knife dipped into flour, cut 1-inch deep "X" in top center of dough.


5. 5.
   BAKE 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.


6. 6.
   COOL bread in skillet 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and cool completely on wire rack. Store tightly wrapped in foil at room temperature.


7. TIP
   This bread tastes great toasted and served with your favorite Smucker's® Jam, Jelly or Preserves.