Soda Bread With Dark Chocolate And Candied Orange Peel

Total Time: 4 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened) or 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, cut into 1/3-inch pieces
• 6 ounces candied orange peel, diced
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg

Recipe

• 1 position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°f
• 2 line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; butter parchment.
• 3 whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend.
• 4 add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• 5 stir in chocolate and orange peel.
• 6 whisk buttermilk and egg in medium bowl to blend; add to dry ingredients. stir just until incorporated.
• 7 turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead gently just until dough comes together, about 5 turns.
• 8 form dough into 6 1/2-inch-diameter round, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches high. transfer to prepared baking sheet. using sharp knife, cut 1-inch-deep, 3-inch-long slits in top of bread, forming sunburst pattern.
• 9 bake bread until well browned and very firm when pressed and tester inserted into center comes out clean, turning baking sheet halfway through baking, about 1 hour 10 minutes total.
• 10 transfer bread to rack and cool completely, at least 3 hours. (can be made 1 day ahead. wrap in foil and store at room temperature.).