Grandma Kavanagh’s Traditional White Irish Soda Bread
4 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
¼ cup corn oil
1 cup raisins - Allow raisins to soften in water or better a bit of Irish whiskey.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and corn oil. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and pour in the buttermilk mixture. Add the raisins, and stir a few times, just until the ingredients come together into a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and with floured hands shape dough into a ball. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet, and cut a large cross in the top with a sharp knife.
Place the bread on a middle rack of the preheated oven, and bake until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
Serves 4-6 depending on the size of your slices.