Irish Soda Bread

Makes 1 loaf

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
1 cup currents or 1/2 cup currents and 1/2 cup golden raisins
1-3/4 cups well-shaken buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter and flour a large baking sheet, knocking off excess flour.

2. Add together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in food processor and process until well combined.  

3.  Add the butter cut-up into flour mixture and pulse until the flour mixture becomes course crumbs.

4.  Transfer flour mixture into a bowl and add currents.

5.  Add buttermilk and stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy.

6.  Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky dough, then form into a ball.

7.  Pat dough ball into a 8-inch round on baking sheet. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep X on top of each loaf with a sharp knife.

8.  Bake in the middle of oven until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.