Julia Crowley Donnelly’s old Irish soda bread recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350. 

Place first four ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Stir to blend. Stir in raisins to coat them. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, slowly add the buttermilk, using a wooden spoon to mix until the dry ingredients are just moistened.  Could use a stand mixer with dough hook.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 10 times. Shape into a ball. Place in a greased pie plate. Make a cross (+) on the top. Bake at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes. Serve warm.

Julia is my great grandmother. She immigrated to America in October 1902 and brought this recipe with her. It has been a tradition in my family to make this ever since.  

When I was a kid, my mom would make almost a dozen loafs every St. Patrick’s day to share with the neighbors.  My kids were taught how to make the recipe and more important, how to share the recipe.