Molasses Soda Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 and lightly oil a large baking sheet. Sprinkle the sheet with cornmeal, semolina, or oats, and set aside.
• Put the 1/2 cup oats in mixing bowl. Stir in the buttermilk, molasses and oil; reserve.
• Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Make a well in the dry mixture and add the liquid all at once; add raisins. Stir briskly with a wooden spoon until dough pulls together in a shaggy mass. Let rest 3 minutes.
• Flour your work surface and hands. Scoop half of the dough onto floured surface and knead gently; if dough is a little sticky, a dough scraper might help. Knead for 1 minute, shaping into a ball. Place on the baking sheet. Using a sharp, serrated knife, make two parallel slashes on the surface of the dough, about 3/4 -inch deep. Repeat for the other half of dough and place on sheet; leave plenty of room between the loaves.
• Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 and bake 20 minutes more, until dark and crusty. When done, the bottom should sound hollow when tapped with a finger. Cool loaves before slicing.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil large baking sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal. Whisk buttermilk, molasses and oil in medium bowl. Stir in oats; set aside. Mix next 6 ingredients in large bowl. Make well in center. Add buttermilk mixture and raisins. Stir until dough comes together (it will be moist). Let stand 5 minutes.
• Lightly flour work surface. Scoop half of dough onto surface; knead gently just until no longer sticky, about 30 seconds. Shape into 4 1/2-inch-diameter ball. Repeat with remaining dough. Place loaves on baking sheet, spacing evenly. Using sharp serrated knife, make 2 parallel slashes atop each loaf, about 3/4 inch deep.
• Bake loaves 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F. Bake until dark and crusty and loaves sound hollow when tapped on bottom, about 25 minutes. Transfer loaves to rack; cool completely. (Can be made 8 hours ahead.)