Sweet Irish Soda Bread | Clodagh McKenna

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the golden sultanas and orange zest, mix well and make a well in the centre of the bowl.

Whisk together the yogurt, orange juice and milk, and slowly pour into the well of dried ingredients. Using your free hand to mix the flour into the liquid, try and spread your fingers far apart so it resembles a trough. Make sure that there are no dry patches and that the dough is completely wet.

Pat your hands with flour and shape the dough into one round. Place on a floured baking tray. Flour a large knife and cut the shape of a cross into the top of the dough about two-thirds of the way through.

Brush the round of bread with the milk using a pastry brush, this will give a lovely golden color to the bread once baked. Sprinkle the fine sugar and orange zest over the bread.

Bake for 20 minutes then turn the heat down to 360°F and continue to bake for another 30 minutes. To test whether the loaf is cooked, tap the back with your knuckles; it should sound hollow. Leave to cool on a cooling rack.