First place winner, Margaret Boone, with her winning Irish Soda Bread.

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the Newport Celtic Festival as something fun to do if you were around the area. Today, I bring you the winning Irish Soda Bread recipe so you can enjoy a little Celtic festival at home.

Irish Soda Bread with Caraway & Drambuie
submitted by Margaret Boone, 1^st prize winner
2011 Newport Celtic Festival and Highland Games, Baking Contest

• 1½ cups Golden Raisins
• 6 Tbsp Drambuie
• 2 cups Bob’s Red Mill Organic Whole Wheat Flour
• 2 cups  Bob’s Red Mill Enriched Unbleached Wheat Flour
• ¼ cup light Brown Sugar (packed)
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 Tbsp Caraway Seeds
• 1½ cups cold Buttermilk
• 2 large Eggs
• 2 Tbsp unsalted Butter (melted)

In a small bowl, combine raisins and Drambuie.  Let stand for 30 min.

Preheat oven to 375°F.  Grease baking sheet.

In a large bowl, using a whisk, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and caraway.  In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs and butter.  Beat slightly with whisk.  Add macerated raisins.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet.  Stir with wooden spoon until moistened.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured counter.  Knead gently about 6 times or until it comes together.  Form into 2 round loaves; place on baking sheet.  Using a serrated knife, slash the tops with an X no more than ¼” deep.

Bake 40-50 min. or until loaves sound hollow when tapped and are brown & crusty.  Serve warm.