Irish Soda Bread

For St. Patrick's Day one year, my sister and I decided to make Irish stew and soda bread. It was delicious. We had never had soda bread before. It quickly became a tradition.
For some reason whenever I see buttermilk, I think of this recipe. It was on sale this week, and although we are past St. Patrick's Day, I had to make it.

Irish Soda Bread

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup dried fruit (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch-diameter cake pan with nonstick spray. I used a 9-inch because, well, that's what I have.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl to blend.

Add butter. Using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms.

Make well in center of flour mixture.

Add buttermilk. Gradually stir dry ingredients into milk to blend. Mix in raisins, if desired. I didn't today.

Using floured hands, shape dough into ball. Transfer to prepared pan and flatten slightly (dough will not come to edges of pan). Sprinkle dough with 1 tablespoon of sugar. I know, I have a weakness for anything with sugar, so this got a little more than a tablespoon of sugar. Bake bread until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Cool bread in pan 10 minutes. Transfer to rack. Voila! Serve warm or at room temperature.