Joining us in March as the Featured Guest Blogger of the Month is California Raisins. They’ve got a team of nutrition professionals who want to ensure all of us are living as healthy as possible, providing information about healthy, natural snacks. 
The first St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States date back to parades in the mid-1700s and to this day the tradition continues. Today, four-leaf clovers, wearing green, tales of Leprechauns, and of course, serving Irish foods to friends and family, are all iconic of a cheerful stateside St. Patrick’s Day celebration. One of the most popular Irish foods for St. Patrick’s Day festivities is Irish Soda Bread.
Irish Soda Bread is a dense quick bread that uses baking soda for leavening, rather than yeast, making it a quick and easy recipe to bake at home. Various recipes for soda bread are popular throughout Ireland, but American versions of Irish Soda Bread traditionally include California raisins, which add a scrumptious sweetness and also help to keep the soda bread moist. Raisins are naturally fat- and cholesterol-free and contain potassium, fiber and iron – all important to help keep up strength for St. Patrick’s Day merriment! Below is our guilt-free, yet indulgently delicious, Irish Soda Bread recipe made with the natural goodness of whole grains and raisins.
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 50 to 55 minutes
Nutrition Facts: 190 Calories, 4g Fat, 3g Fiber
Ingredients
– 1 1/2 cups wheat flour
– 1 1/2 cups flour
– 1/3 cup sugar
– 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
– 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup buttermilk
– 1/4 cup melted heart healthy spread
– 1 egg
– 1 cup California Raisins
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Stir in buttermilk, butter and egg until well mixed; stir in California Raisins. Knead several times on a lightly floured board then shape into a ball. Place on prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly. Cut a small x in the top and bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
See also Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread
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