Norwalk resident Susan Hanson shared her mother’s Irish soda bread recipe with us as part of our show on St. Patrick’s Day food. For more than 40 years, Susan has been baking Irish soda bread and her husband, Steve, delivers the loaves to friends and family across Connecticut. In 2021, Susan, with the help of her sister Sharon, baked 200 loaves of Irish Soda Bread. She shares it here in the hopes you’ll start a St. Patrick’s Day tradition of your own.
Susan Hanson’s Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 Tablespoons caraway seeds
- 2 cups raisins
- 1 eggs
- 1 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375˚ F.
- In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut in the butter.
- Mix in caraway seeds and raisins until incorporated.
- In separate bowl, add egg and buttermilk, then baking soda. Quickly stir the wet mix into the dry ingredients.
- Shape the dough on a floured surface.
- Place the dough in a greased 2-quart baking dish and cut a deep cross from side to side.
- Bake for1 hour. Cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Slices are best warm with butter.