irish soda bread #2

1 hour, 20 minutes

3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1 teaspoons salt
1 cup raisins or currants
2 eggs
16 ounces sour cream
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 egg yolk

preheat oven to 350. in a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, caraway seeds and salt. whisk until well combined. add raisins. mix until well distributed. in a small bowl beat two eggs. add sour cream to eggs and blend. pour sour cream mixture in to dry ingredients. mix until completely absorbed. form in to ball. place on a greased cookie sheet and form in to a dome shape, approximately 8" in diameter. cut cross in to top about 1/2 " deep. whisk egg yolk and heavy cream in small bowl. lightly coat loaf using a pastry brush. bake for 50-60 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean when inserted in to center. add a bit of butter and eat.

i made this yesterday. originally, i thought it was a little too cake-like. i grew up with a grandma from ireland so i like the rustic qualities of an authentic soda bread. however, on day two it is actually quite nice, not as crumbly as my first recipe. i am thinking of combining the two recipes to make something in the middle. both are very good, depending on how you like your soda bread.