Irish Brown Bread With Raisins

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter softened, cut into tablespoons
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon orange zest or 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375oF degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Or you can bake this in a 10- inch cast iron skillet (which will cause the bread to spread less.) Or an 8 or 9 inch cake pan would also work.

In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Stir to combine. Add in the butter and stir to combine. Add the buttermilk and egg and stir to combine.

Add in the raisins and either orange zest or caraway seeds if you are using them. You may need to stir this in by hand with a spatula.

Turn the dough onto your cookie sheet and shape into a ball. Pat down slightly into about a 8-9 inch circle. Brush the top with more buttermilk or a sprinkle of sugar. Using a serrated knife, cut an “X” across the top of the bread.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature of 190oF. Cool on a cooling rack.