Chef John’s Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup rolled oats
• 1¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 1¾ cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 2 Tbs honey, or more to taste
• 2 tsp grated orange zest
• 1 cup dried currants
• 1/3 cup golden raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
2. Whisk all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. Beat buttermilk, egg, honey, and orange zest together in a bowl. Pour buttermilk mixture, currants, and raisins into flour mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until a wet, sticky dough comes together.
4. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface; press dough together into a soft ball of dough and cut into 2 pieces. Form each half into a smooth, round loaf. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and let rest for 15 minutes. Cut a 1/2-inch deep “X” into the top of each loaf with a serrated knife.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 45 minutes. Transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.