Irish Soda Bread

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.

Combine 4 cups of flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, whisk lightly. Add cold butter and combine with mixer.

In a small bowl, combine buttermilk, egg and orange zest, beat lightly with a fork. Slowly add milk mixture to flour mixture, mixing on low speed.

Add about 1 tablespoon of flour to currants (or dried cranberries, like I did) so they don’t clump together. Fold them into the dough to combine well.

Dump dough onto well floured surface, and knead into a round loaf . I divided the dough in half to make 2 smaller loaves. Place them on the cookie sheet and with a serrated knife, make an “X” on top.

If you make one loaf, bake for about 45-55 minutes. I made two smaller loaves and baked for about 30 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.

Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.