Irish Soda Bread Muffins

Recipe by PJ Hamel

So who says Irish soda bread HAS to be made in a round or loaf pan? These tender, Americanized Irish soda bread muffins are bursting with tiny, sweet currants and a hint (or a hit, your choice) of caraway. They're the perfect offering for St. Patrick's Day — particularly if you're looking to celebrate with something other than corned beef and cabbage! Eat them any time of day: They're slightly sweeter than their traditional Irish Soda Bread counterparts.

Prep
10 mins
Bake
20 mins
Total
30 mins
Yield
12 muffins
Irish Soda Bread Muffins

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin pan; or line with papers, and grease the papers.

  2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, currants or raisins, and caraway seeds.

  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk (or equivalent) and melted butter (or equivalent).

  4. Quickly and gently combine the dry and wet ingredients; honestly, this won't take more than a few stirs with a bowl scraper or large spoon. As soon as everything is evenly moistened, quit; further stirring will cause the muffins to be tough.

  5. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, filling the cups about 3/4 full; the stiff batter will look mounded in the cups. Top with sparkling white sugar.

  6. Bake the muffins for 20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove them from the oven. Tip the muffins in the pan, so their bottoms don't get soggy. Wait 5 minutes, then transfer the muffins to a rack to cool. Serve them plain, or with butter and/or jam.