Irish Soda Bread and Whiskey Butter
An old family recipe for whiskey butter and Irish soda bread that gets rave reviews!
raisins
1
cup
whiskey
½
cup
all-purpose flour
3
cups
white sugar
½
cup
baking powder
1
tablespoon
salt
1
teaspoon
baking soda
½
teaspoon
grated orange peel (Optional)
1
tablespoon
caraway seeds (Optional)
1
tablespoon
buttermilk
1 ⅓
cups
butter, melted
¼
cup
butter, at room temperature
½
cup
 Place raisins into a small bowl. Pour in whiskey and allow to soak, 8 hours to overnight.
  The next day, strain raisins, reserving whiskey. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
  Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Stir in drained raisins, orange peel, and caraway seeds. Beat in buttermilk and 1/4 cup melted butter until incorporated and batter is thick. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
  Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
  Beat 1/2 cup butter in a bowl until fluffy; beat in reserved whiskey, 1 teaspoon at a time, to taste. Serve with soda bread.
