Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread made with buttermilk and basic pantry ingredients. The buttermilk gives this crusty loaf a good flavor. It's the best Irish soda bread around!
all-purpose flour
4
cups
margarine or butter, softened
½
cup
white sugar
4
tablespoons
baking soda
1
teaspoon
baking powder
1
tablespoon
salt
½
teaspoon
buttermilk
1
cup
egg
1
large
butter, melted
¼
cup
buttermilk
¼
cup
 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
  Mix flour, softened margarine, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round loaf and place on the prepared baking sheet. Note that the dough will be a little sticky.
  Combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk in a small bowl; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
  Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.
