Classic Irish Soda Bread

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 1 cup cake flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 tbls softened, 1 tbls melted)
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Recipe

• 1 adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat over to 400 degrees.
• 2 whisk flours, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt in large bowl.
• 3 work softened butter into dry ingredients with fork or fingertips until texture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 4 add buttermilk and stir with fork just until dough begins to come together.
• 5 turn out onto flour-coated work surface; knead until dough just becomes cohesive and bumpy, 12 to 14 turns. (do not knead until dough is smooth or bread will be tough).
• 6 pat dough into a round about 6 inches in diameter and 2 inches high; place on greased baking sheet and cut a cross shape into top.
• 7 bake until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean; 40 to 45 minutes.
• 8 remove from oven and brush with melted butter; cool to room temperature, 30 to 40 minutes.