Irish Soda Bread Muffins

One of my favorite foods during the usual month long celebration of St. Patricks Day is Irish Soda Bread. I generally buy myself a loaf or two throughout the month to slice and eat for breakfast. These muffins are a great alternative, they are moist and delicious for breakfast or to go along side of the traditional corned beef and cabbage meal on the 17th. The baked goods I get from my local Shoprite are good and convenient when I don't have time to make things but most of the time I know I can make a better version of it at home so this time I did.

Adapted from: http://www.recipegirl.com/

Ingredients:

2 Cups Flour

3 Tbsp Sugar

1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/4 Cup Salted Butter

1 Cup Low Fat Buttermilk

1 Egg

3/4 Cup Raisins

Pam Spray

Start by preheating your oven to 375 F. Spray your muffin pan with Pam and set aside. Next, whisk together your dry ingredients in a large bowl.

In a separate smaller bowl whisk together the egg and the buttermilk.

Use a pastry cutter to add the cold salted butter into the dry ingredients until it is well combined and resembles coarse crumbles. If you are like me and you don't own a pastry cutter you can use two knives and move them back and forth like scissors or put it all in a food processor and your result will be the same.

Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until a moist batter is formed. Add the raisins and whisk again so they are evenly distributed throughout the muffins.

Fill the muffin tins to the top with the batter. I got 9 good sized muffins out of my batch. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick comes out of the center of a muffin clean. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes. They are best warm so either serve them immediately or put them out on a rack to cool completely. If you are going to enjoy them later I suggest putting them in the toaster oven to reheat.

This is linked to http://www.mrsfoxssweets.blogspot.com/, http://www.chef-in-training.com/http://www.skiptomylou.org/http://www.iheartnaptime.net/http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.itsybitsypaper.blogspot.com/, http://www.talkingdollarsandcents.net/

http://www.4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/, http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/, http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/

Enjoy!! - Nicole