Meggles' Meals: Cranberry Soda Bread

For St Patricks Day weekend we went to Pittsburgh for the parade and my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's annual shindig.

I decided to try my hand at Irish Soda Bread, which Irish though I am, I have never made. not sure why because it is EASY and YUMMY!

I had to be different though and changed the recipe to be more of a sweet bread than a traditional Irish Soda, and used dried cranberries instead of raisins too. It was SO.GOOD. I seriously ate about 5 (small) pieces saturday night. YUM!

The recipe is from one of my good buddies Alison (Finny). This is one of her family recipes (plus my changes since I cant leave well enough alone...). My changes in italics

2 cup raisins (crans)

4 cup flour (It was a REALLLLLY wet dough so I added about 1/4-1/2 cup out of worry)

3/4 cup sugar (I added 1/4 c extra)

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda (all the recipe said was "tsp" so I guessed at 1...)

1 3/4 cup butter milk (i did it the cheater way - turned milk to buttermilk by added white vinegar)

1 egg

1 stick butter, chopped (I softened it first to work in the dough more easily)

1. soak 2 cup raisins in warm water, when plump drain.

2. combine dry ingredients in large bowl

3. add butter - use hands to mix

4. combine wet ingredients in separate bowl

5. slowly add wet ingredients to dry, mix with hands, turn dough (will be sticky) If too sticky add more flour

6. place moist dough in greased cast iron pan or onto a greased cookie sheet. The dough was huge and wet so needed to be a skillet... I tried a cookie sheet but it wasnt holding together...)

7. cut x across top of dough

8. Back at 350 until toothpick comes out clean. (about 1 hour)

9. if the top is getting too brown before middle is done...cover with foil.