Irish Soda Bread

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour, soft wheat
• ¾ tsp. kosher salt
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• 1½ cups buttermilk
• Irish butter, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Make a well in the center, then pour in the buttermilk. Use a spoon to stir the mixture together until it just starts to come together into a shaggy dough. Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then gently knead 3 or 4 times to form a ball.
3. Place the dough onto a parchment-lined sheet pan and pat it out into a circle about 2 inches thick. Use a sharp knife to cut a cross on the top of the loaf, about 1 inch deep.
4. Immediately bake for 15 minutes at 450°F, then reduce oven temperature to 400°F and bake an additional 20-25 minutes. until the loaf is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
5. Remove bread to a cooling rack. Cool at least 15 minutes before slathering with Irish butter and devouring.