Soda Bread with Tea-Soaked Prunes

Ingredients

215g/ 1 cup black tea, brewed strong and cooled
135g / 1 cup Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Prunes
470g/ 3 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
95g/ 1/2 cup sugar
15g/ 1/3 cup unprocessed wheat bran
8g/ 2 teaspoons baking powder
4g / 1 teaspoon baking soda
4g / 1 teaspoon kosher salt
57g / 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
240g / 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 large egg
To finish:
30g / 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted (optional)

Instructions

Pour the tea over the prunes and soak for 15 minutes at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator. Drain well.

Preheat an oven to 180°C. Oil a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Using your hands, blend the unsalted butter into the flour until it forms a crumbly mixture.

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg together. Gradually stir the buttermilk into the flour and butter and mix just until a tacky dough forms. Dice the prunes and gently fold into the dough.

Turn the dough onto a well-floured counter and knead until it is no longer sticky. Cut in half (or keep whole) and pat each half into a round. Put the rounds on opposite ends of the prepared baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut an X on the top of each round.

Bake until the tops are golden brown, about 35 minutes for the smaller rounds and 50 minutes for a large round. Transfer to a cooling rack. While the bread is cooling, brush salted butter on top.