Irish Soda Bread with Caraway and Raisins

An easy and tasty Irish soda bread with raisins and caraway seeds. A perfect bread to serve with soups and soups. It's also great for breakfast!

Irish Soda Bread with Caraway and Raisins

Makes 1 12-inch round loaf

5 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes, room temperature

1 cup Thompson raisins

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

2 1/2 cups buttermilk 

1 large egg

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a heavy ovenproof 10 to 12-inch diameter skillet with 2 to 2 ½-inch tall sides. 

In a large bowl, stir together the first five ingredients. Blend in butter by using fingertips and rubbing until coarse crumbs form. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg. Add to dough and stir with a wooden spoon until all is just mixed together. Dough will be sticky.

Transfer dough to the buttered skillet and smooth out the top, mounding it slightly in the centre. 

Bake in oven for 1 hour 10 minutes, until tester inserted into the centre comes out clean. 

Cool, then serve.