Marylou McCann’s Irish Soda Bread

For 1-800-Flowers.com founder Jim McCann and his family, St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate their Irish heritage and welcome the arrival of spring.

The McCann family has several St. Patrick’s Day rituals. For Jim, the day always starts with a friend who sends out a text message at the crack of dawn. “Top O’ the mornin’ to ye!” it reads.

One of their favorite traditions is watching — and sometimes marching in — New York City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Once, Jim and his wife Marylou were afforded a perfect view from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a guest of Cardinal Timothy Dolan with their good friend Ed O’Brien.  It’s a memory he’ll never forget.

Marylou spices things up with her famous Irish soda bread. Her recipe strays from tradition (accidentally, of course) by adding and omitting a few ingredients. The first time was a mix-up, but the result was so craic-ing good that the McCann clan demanded she keep the magic intact for years to come.

Dive into Marylou's special soda bread recipe and brace yourself for a taste of Irish luck.

Marylou McCann's Irish Soda Bread

• 4 cups flour, sifted
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp caraway seeds (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients.

3. Stir in all remaining ingredients with a wooden spoon.

4. Pour batter into a greased and lightly floured angel food pan and bake for 50 minutes.

5. Remove from the oven, slice, and serve.

If you want to avoid the crust getting too hard, rub it with butter when removing the bread from the oven.

Irish