IRISH SWEET CAKE/SPOTTED DOG

By Rose Mary Mogan
@cookinginillinois

This recipe is from the book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF IRISH COUNTRY COOKING BY DARINA ALLEN. It is a collection of traditional & wholesome Recipes from Ireland.

I used this particular recipe to compliment the Braised Eye of the Round steaks that I made for dinner.

This bread is known by other names depending on which region of Ireland you are from, Curnie Cake, Railway Cake & others. The wives often made this bread to reward their husbands for the hard labor they had done in the fields, & depending on what she had on hand,determined what ingredients were used in it.

Rating:

★★★★★ 1 vote

Comments:

26 Comments

Serves:

4-6 depending on portion size

Prep:

15 Min

Cook:

45 Min

Method:

Bake

Ingredients

4 c: all purpose flour (sifted)
1-2 Tbsp: sugar, (i used 2)
1 tsp: salt (level)
1 tsp: baking soda (sifted)
3/4 c: raisins, currants, or golden raisins ( i used about twice as much)
1 1/4 c: sour milk or butter milk ( i had to use more)
1 large: egg (free range if available)

How to Make IRISH SWEET CAKE/SPOTTED DOG

Step-by-Step

1I wanted to make an easy bread to go with the Braised Steaks, from ingredients that I already had on hand. This recipe worked perfectly.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2Measure flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add salt, baking soda, sugar & 1 whole egg.
3With one hand gradually begin to work flour into center from sides of bowl.
4Then add buttermilk, drained raisins, and continue to add more flour into mix.
5Dough should be soft and pliable but not stickey. Knead bread and shape into a 1 1/2 inch size tall ball.
6Place in a greased cast iron skillet. MY CHOICE, ORIGINAL RECIPE DID NOT SAY TO GREASE SKILLET.
7Cut a deep cross about 1 1/2 inch deep with a serrated knife into top of bread. I CHOSE TO SPRAY TOP WITH NON STICK COOKING SPRAY.
8Bake in preheated 450 degree F oven for 15 minutes. Then Lower temperature to 400 Degrees F. and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until bread sounds hallow when tapped on bottom.
9Remove from oven. I CHOSE TO BRUSH TOP OF BREAD WITH BUTTER. Used an electric knife to slice bread into thick hearty slices.
10Smear butter over sliced bread while still warm if desired. MY HUSBAND LOVED THIS BREAD, said it tasted similiar to Irish soda bread. It is similiar but only made with one type of flour instead of two.

NOTE: I DID COVER MY RAISINS IN WATER & HEATED THEM IN MICROWAVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, TO ADD A LITTLE MORE MOISTURE TO THE BREAD.