A favorite recipe from a favorite new cookbook that was a gift from a favorite friend puts this Irish Soda Bread with currants, caraway seeds and orange zest at the top of my heap.
In the past, I have sung the praises of Grand Central Bakery. When I visit my best pal in Portland, Oregon I always find myself at the bakery ordering a cup fragrant, locally roasted coffee and about 10 other treats from the menu. For Christmas, my bestie proved that she knows me well by gifting me the Grand Central Bakery’s new cookbook. Since their bakeries are only on the West Coast, I can now get a little fix of Grand Central goodies in my own Chicago kitchen.
I am always suspicious about restaurants that are willing to print all their recipes and give away their secrets. Did they leave just one ingredient out? Did they skip an essential step to ensure we can’t COMPLETELY replicate their yumminess? Or do they count on the fact that we just prefer them doing the work and enjoying the experience enough to continue buying their treats?
In the case of this Irish Soda Bread, Grand Central seems to not only have given us the true recipe but also pages of hints, tips and tricks on baking and ingredients so we can make them just right. Thank you Grand Central! I will still sit at your long, wooden table and eat YOUR Irish Soda Bread whenever I find myself in Portland. But until then… I will be smiling ear to ear that I have a little taste of you in Chicago.
These are best eaten the day you make them so give a few to neighbors or co-workers. Your unexpected good deed will surely lift their spirits.
Irish Soda Bread from Grand Central Bakery
Makes 8 large pieces.
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons caraway seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped orange zest
3/4 cup currants
3/4 cup cold, unsalted butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
Egg wash
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Measure the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl with high sides or the bowl of stand mixer and whisk to combine. Stir in the caraway seeds, orange zest and currents.
Dice the butter into 1/2 inch cubes. Use your hands or the paddle attachment of the stand mixer on low speed to blend the butter into dry ingredients until the texture becomes mealy. If you want to finish baking the soda bread the next day, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill overnight; otherwise proceed with the recipe.
Add 3/4 cup of the buttermilk at once, mixing just until the dough comes together, 30-35 seconds. Scrape the bottom and sides to incorporate dry ingredients, then stir in enough buttermilk to bring the dough together. You may have buttermilk leftover.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 2 chunks. Gently shape the chunks into domed disks and score each one into quarters. Place on the prepared pan and brush liberally with egg wash (1 egg, 1 tablespoon water, pinch of salt whisked all together).
Bake for 30-35 minutes rotating the pan halfway through the baking time. The soda bread should be shiny and golden brown. To serve, cut or pull the disks apart where they were scored.
PRINT RECIPE
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Yum! My best friend also lives in Portland, and I wish I’d known to go there! Next time, for sure.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Thanks for focusing on this terrific cookbook! I work across the street from a Grand Central Bakery, so I know the fare all too well. I’ve tried a few recipes from their book. I followed all of their helpful tips and the results are truly spot-on. I can’t believe that they are giving us their recipes, but I’m glad they did!
March 4th, 2010 at 8:41 am
I am a huge fan of Irish soda bread. Thanks for trying and sharing this recipe! I’m thinking it will find a place on my table March 17th!
March 4th, 2010 at 10:52 am
This may be a very good dessert to make,and a wonderful book but it is not Irish Soda Bread. Orange Zest?? Please!!! If you want to know about real Irish Soda Bread, go to http://www.sodabread.info
March 4th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Ed, I know it isn’t the usual. I grew up as a kid eating the real stuff now and then too. But, since it wasn’t my recipe, kept the name as it read. Truly, these are more like a delicious scone.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
It never occurred to me to add caraway seeds to my Irish soda breads. It sounds like a wonderful addition!
March 8th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Yum! I’ve always added fennel but caraway seems like a pretty great addition. I’ll be making up a batch soon.
March 10th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Gosh those look great! Never made iris soda bread. Looks like I might have to try it! Glad to find your blog.
March 10th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Care, these look perfect! Just like the delicacies down the street. I wish I could try yours. (p.s. I like the term “bestie.”)
March 16th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
I LOVE THESE!!
Thank you so very very much for sharing the recipe :)
I made two batches tonight, both required much more buttermilk, but maybe that is because I used wheat flower (?). I added craisins to the second batch and they are delicious!!
March 17th, 2010 at 11:39 am
[...] like currants, orange zest and caraway seeds imbedded in a delicious carbohydrate? I saw this recipe on Whipped from Grand Central Bakery and had to try it out. Very easy, and I think pretty tasty, but more scone like than bread like. [...]
March 17th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
[...] I'm going to make the one with the currants again—but using a different recipe, the one from The Grand Central Baking Book cookbook. It's actually much more like a scone—not really the same thing at all. They sell this as well (at Grand Central Bakery here in Portland) and I need to stop in and try some. Here is the recipe as it appears in the book. [...]
March 25th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
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March 25th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Completely agree with your comments on this – thanks for taking the time to post.
March 25th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Excellent ideas here, have emailed my mum so expect a big reply!!
April 20th, 2010 at 12:58 am
[...] Irish Soda Bread with Currants, Caraway Seeds & Orange Zest :: Whipped [...]
April 20th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Its lookiing really very great recipe and from grand central bakery, so it must be great.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
My grandmother is Irish, and I can remember just how delicious this bread was, she used to make it from scratch.
May 14th, 2010 at 9:46 am
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[...] Irish Soda Bread with Currants, Caraway Seeds & Orange Zest :: Whipped [...]
June 4th, 2010 at 2:25 am
Its lookiing really very great recipe and from grand central bakery, so it must be great.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:35 am
I don’t know the shop, but that was delicious, very similar to English scones I believe. Thank you~
January 10th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
[...] Irish Soda Bread at Whipped [...]
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