Thursday, March 16, 2017

Chef John's Irish Soda Bread



Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons honey, or more to taste
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • 1 cup dried currants
  • 1/3 cup golden raisins

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
  2. Whisk all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
  3. Beat buttermilk, egg, honey, and orange zest together in a bowl. Pour buttermilk mixture, currants, and raisins into flour mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until a wet, sticky dough comes together.
  4. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface; press dough together into a soft ball of dough and cut into 2 pieces. Form each half into a smooth, round loaf. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and let rest for 15 minutes. Cut a 1/2-inch deep "X" into the top of each loaf with a serrated knife.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 45 minutes. Transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.