Ingredients

The following ingredients have 12 Servings
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 8 tablespoons cold butter
  • 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instruction

  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
  • Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter into the flour until only small, flour covered bits remain.
  • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
  • In another bowl (or I just use the liquid measuring cup) mix together the buttermilk and the egg. Mix with a wooden spoon until almost all of the flour is incorporated. Dump the dough (and any remaining flour) onto a counter and knead a few times to incorporate all of the flour. If the dough is too sticky and is sticking to the counter, you can add more flour, but you shouldn’t need to.
  • Transfer the dough to a 10” cast iron skillet. Use a serrated knife to score an X shape across the top of the dough.
  • In a small bowl, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the buttermilk. Brush about 1/4 of this mixture over the top of the bread.
  • Place the skillet into the oven and set a timer for 15 minutes.
  • When the timer goes off, baste the bread with 1/3 of the remaining butter mixture, then sprinkle evenly with 1/3 of the sugar. Return to the oven and set the timer for 10 more minutes.
  • When the timer goes off, repeat the above steps with the buttermilk mixture and the sugar, using 1/2 of the remaining ingredients. If needed, you may need to pop the buttermilk mixture in the microwave for a few seconds to make it liquid again. Set the timer for 10 more minutes.
  • When the timer goes off, repeat the above steps one last time, using the rest of the buttermilk mixture and the rest of the sugar.
  • Return the bread to the oven and allow it to bake until the top is golden brown, another 10-15 minutes, for a total bake time of about 45-50 minutes.
  • Allow the bread to cool for a bit before slicing and serving.