Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 0.5 cup butter cold cut into small pieces
• 1.3 cups buttermilk 
• 1 tsp calumet baking powder 
• 0.5 cup currants 
• 3.3 cups flour 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 0.3 cup sugar divided

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• wire rack
• blender

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350F.
2. Combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
3. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add buttermilk and currants; stir just until moistened.
5. Place dough on lightly floured surface; knead 10 times. Shape into 2-1/2-inch-thick round.
6. Place on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
7. Cut deep 1/2-inch "X" in top of dough; sprinkle with remaining sugar.
8. Bake 1 hour or until golden brown.
9. Remove bread from baking sheet to wire rack; cool completely before cutting into wedges.