Low fat Irish soda bread or scone recipe?!
Answers: I want to make either Irish soda bread or scones with raisins for St. Patrick's Day. I usually use pure butter and whole milk but I am now watching my fat grams and need to find a recipe that uses a lower fat margarine/butter substitute. I know that some margarines do not "translate" well if substituted for butter. Any ideas?
(most people think buttermilk is fatty when in fact it's actually better for you than regular milk)
Irish Soda Bread
2 cup flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup California raisins
1 1/2 tsp caraway seeds (optional)
1 cup low-fat buttermilk (2% fat)
1 egg, slightly beaten with 1 tbsp water
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds. Add buttermilk; blend to moisten the dry ingredients.
Turn dough onto floured board; knead for several minutes until smooth. Form dough into a round ball and place on greased baking sheet.
Flatten ball until dough is about 1 1/2 inches thick; brush top and sides with egg-water mixture. Cut a 1/2-inch deep cross in top of bread with sharp knife.
Bake at 375°F for 30 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Transfer to wire rack to cool; brush top with butter or margarine and cover with cloth, until cool.
**************************************...
Low Fat Dried Fruit Scones
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup dried plum puree
2 tablespoons margarine, cold
8 ounces nonfat plain yogurt
1/2 cup dried cranberries or craisins or other dried fruit, finely chopped
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon sugar
-Preheat oven to 400°.
-Coat cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
-In a large bowl, combine first 6 ingredients.
-Cut into dry ingredients the plum puree and cold margarine with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
-Add yogurt and mix until just blended.
-Stir in dried fruit.
-On a floured surface, roll or pat dough to 3/4 inch thickness.
-Cut out with a 2 1/2 to 3 inch biscuit cutter, rerolling scraps as needed.
-NOTE: The less you handle the dough the better so be sure to get as many as possible the first time.
-Arrange on cookie sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
-Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sugar.
-Bake in the center of the oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown and springy to the touch.
Low fat Irish soda bread
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups low fat buttermilk
PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir dry ingredients together with a whisk. Make a well in the center and add 1 cup of the buttermilk, reserving 1/2 cup. Combine dry ingredients and buttermilk with a fork, gradually adding more of the remaining liquid until a soft dough is formed.
Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface for 1 minute. Form into a slightly flattened circle. Place on a parchment lined (or silicone baking mat) cookie sheet. Mark a large 1/2-inch deep X with a sharp knife and bake soda bread for 40-45 minutes. The bread is ready when it is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Yield 1 round loaf (8-10 wedges or slices).