How to make Irish Soda Bread with Raisins:

You Need:
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 cups all purpose flour
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup raisins
*Option to add 1/2 cup of sour cream*

Fun Facts:
There are 34.7 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry.

New York City and Boston have the largest celebrations in the United States.

The first parade took place in 1762 when Irish soldiers marched through NYC.

There are approximately 144,588 people in America that were born in Ireland.

Irish soda bread gets its name and distinctive character from the use of baking soda rather than yeast as a leavening agent.

Irish is the second most commonly reported ancestry. German is the first.

The St. Patrick’s day parade in NYC does not allow balloons or floats. Forty pounds of green dye are used to turn the Chicago River green.

Thirty-nine percent of the American population celebrates St. Patrick’s day.