Maud Herlihy's Irish Soda Bread

Name: Maud Herlihy's Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients: 3.5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface; 0.25 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 0.75 teaspoon salt; 0.5 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and frozen, plus more, softened, for skillet; 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream; 1 large egg; 2 cups raisins; 1 cup buttermilk; Caraway seeds (optional)

3.8

(47)

14 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on April 23, 2020

Yield:

1 loaf

Maud Herlihy's Irish Soda Bread is a St. Patrick's Day classic. Bill Herlihy, the executive in charge of "The Martha Stewart Show," shares a recipe from his mother, Maud.

Ingredients

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and frozen, plus more, softened, for skillet
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1 large egg
2 cups raisins
1 cup buttermilk
Caraway seeds (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees with a rack set in lower third of oven. Lightly butter a 10-inch round cast-iron skillet; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add butter, sour cream and egg; mix, using a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins, buttermilk, and caraway seeds, if using, and mix until a sticky dough forms.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using a floured bench scraper, form into a round loaf; using a sharp knife score a large "X" in the center.
Place in prepared skillet and transfer to oven. Bake until loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. If top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with a piece of parchment paper-lined aluminum foil. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Originally appeared: The Martha Stewart Show, March 2010, The Martha Stewart Show, The Martha Stewart Show, March 2010