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–+ servings

Railway Cake

BakedBreadFruitGastro-PubHeartyHotOvenPotluckSidesVegetarian
Time :45 minutes
Yield :8 servings
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Butter cake with chopped nuts and dried fruits on wooden cutting board, close-up view, homemade dessert, sweet baked good, comforting treat, delicious homemade cake, ingredient-focused photo, appealing bakery-style treat, perfect for snack or celebration, cozy baking at home.

The Scoop

All aboard for the bread pretending to be cake.
Railway Cake, also known as Spotted Dog, is a classic Irish soda bread studded with juicy raisins and baked into a tender, lightly sweet loaf. Slice it warm, slather it with butter, and suddenly dinner has a very good reason to slow down.
Hack it:
Switch the fruit: Use golden raisins, dried currants, chopped dates, dried cranberries, or chopped dried apricots.
Make it citrusy: Add orange or lemon zest for a bright contrast to the dried fruit.
Add spice: Mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, or a little ground ginger.
Go nutty: Fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts for extra crunch.
Try a savory twist: Skip the dried fruit and add grated cheddar, herbs, and black pepper instead.
Leftovers:
Properly buttered: Toast thick slices until golden and serve with plenty of salted butter.
French toast: Dip slices in an egg-and-milk mixture and fry until golden, then serve with berries.
Bread pudding: Cube the bread and bake with custard, dried fruit, and a little cinnamon.
Sweet toast: Top toasted slices with ricotta, honey, and fresh berries.
Breakfast strata: Cube the bread and bake with eggs, cheese, and sautéed vegetables for a savory brunch.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring a work surface, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, plus more to taste
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup raisins, golden raisins, or dried currants

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Generously grease or spray an 8-inch cake pan.
  • Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixture.
  • Add the baking soda, the sugar, and the salt to the bowl with the flour, whisking until well combined.
  • Make a well in the center of the bowl of the dry ingredients.
  • In a measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk and the egg.
  • Add the raisins to the well in the dry ingredients.
  • Add the buttermilk and egg mixture to the well and mix until everything is just combined. Be careful not to overmix it.
  • Lightly flour a flat work surface.
  • Turn the dough onto the floured worksurface and pull the pieces together, shaping it into a 1 1/2-2-inch-tall round loaf.
  • Transfer the rounded loaf to the prepared baking pan.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut a cross over the top of the loaf, making 4 quarters.
  • Poke a hole into each of the quarters.
  • Using a second 8-inch pan if available, cover the pan with the dough. This will replicate the original baking process of the soda bread.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Transfer the top cake pan away from the bottom cake pan and continue baking until the top of the bread is golden, about 15 minutes.
  • Transfer the loaf from the baking pan and move it to a wire cooling rack.
  • Serve while still warm.
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