Fruit & spice soda bread

INGREDIENTS


100g rolled porridge oats
25g butter, diced
200g plain flour
200g plain wholemeal flour, plus extra for dusting
100g caster sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1½ tsp mixed spice
50g raisins
50g sultanas
50g stoned dates, finely chopped
3 tbsp mixed peel
450ml buttermilk
3-4 tbsp demerara sugar

PROCEDURE

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Whizz the porridge oats and butter together in a food processor, or rub the butter into the oats with your fingertips in a big bowl. Stir in the flours, caster sugar, bicarb, mixed spice, 1 tsp salt, the raisins, sultanas, dates and mixed peel.
• Pour over the buttermilk and quickly stir in with a round-bladed knife. Tip out onto a flour-dusted surface and gently bring together into a ball with your hands. Transfer to a flour-dusted baking sheet and scatter over the demerara sugar, pressing it into the top. Use a sharp, flour-dusted knife to cut a big cross in the top and bake for 30-35 mins until crusty on the outside. Eat warm or cold, thickly sliced, with butter.

SOURCE: bbcgoodfood.com