Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With ‘Spotted Dog’ Irish Soda Bread

This is most delicious when served warm. (Blaine Moats/TNS)

In this healthy whole-wheat Irish soda bread recipe, the addition of fruit and caraway seeds is often referred to as “spotted dog,” but you can omit them if you prefer a more traditional Irish soda bread. Baked in a skillet, this crowd-pleasing bread is delicious eaten warm with a pat of butter.

Irish Soda Bread With Raisins

Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Serves 12

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 4 1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup currants
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 F.

Warm a 9-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and add butter, swirling to coat the bottom and sides.

Combine flour, currants, raisins, caraway seeds, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring just until the flour is fully incorporated. Do not overmix. The dough should be sticky and a little shaggy.

Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly. It’s OK if it doesn’t reach all the way to the sides. Use a sharp knife to score a deep X in the top of the loaf.

Bake until cooked through and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

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Recipe nutrition per serving: 214 calories, 2 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 4 mg cholesterol, 45 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 10 g total sugars, 8 g protein, 354 mg sodium, 235 mg potassium, 6 mg iron, 3 mcg folate, 66 mg calcium, 58 IU vitamin A, 1 mg vitamin c.

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