Tate's Bake Shop Irish Soda Bread

 Softened butter for the muffin cups

 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

1½ teaspoons baking powder

 ½ teaspoon baking soda

 ½ teaspoon salt

 4 tablespoons (½ stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes

 ½ cup dried currants (you can substitute raisins for currants)

1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)

1 cup buttermilk 

1.      Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F.  Butter ten 3-by-1½-inch muffin cups.

2.      In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Using a pastry blender or fork, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized pieces.  Add the currants and the caraway, if using, and toss to coat with the flour mixture.  Stir in the buttermilk and mix just until combined into a stiff dough.

3.      Using a ⅓-cup food portion scoop or two spoons, spoon the dough into the muffin cups.  (It is stiff and will not flow like typical muffin batter.)  Using scissors, snip and X in the top of each muffin.  (The X will disappear during baking, but it makes the top craggier and less even.)

4.      Bake until the muffin tops are golden brown and spring back when pressed with a fingertip, 20 to 25 minutes.  Remove from the pan and let cool on a wire cooling rack for 5 minutes.  Serve warm.

      St. Patrick’s Day is always a great excuse to make Irish soda bread.  Most people love it but limit themselves to the holiday only.  Making the soda bread in muffin form makes it more of an everyday treat and the muffins also develop a very tasty, crisp bottom and a nice craggy top, which makes it hard to eat just one.  These are best served the day they are baked.  Since they are so quick, make them for breakfast, or serve them with the traditional St. Patrick’s Day corned beef dinner, right from the oven.

Visit the Tate's Bake Shop website for tasty treats!

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday,
for my Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek! 

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!