Irish Soda Bread, American

This is the American version of Irish soda bread. Its called Spotted Dog in Ireland...not Irish soda bread. Traditional Irish soda bread isn't sweet. See my post for Traditional Irish Soda Bread.

Spotted Dog Bread:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk, approximately
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup raisins
water
Place raisins in a small saucepan on the stove or jar in the microwave. Barely cover the raisins with water. Heat to almost boiling. Remove from the heat and let sit. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Strain the water out of the raisins into a measuring cup. Add enough buttermilk to the raisin water to make 2 cups of liquid. Blend eggs, buttermilk/water mixture, and applesauce together. Add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in raisins. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.