Molasses Bread (Brown Bread Recipe)

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Molasses Bread is a brown bread that has amazing flavors of coffee, cocoa, brown sugar, honey, and molasses.

The bread is soft and has hint of sweetness. Combined with the coffee and cocoa flavors, this makes for a great breakfast bread but can be enjoyed anytime of the day. 

Molasses bread is also known as brown bread or coffee bread.

Molasses Bread Ingredients

To make this sweet brown bread recipe, you will need the following ingredients (see the recipe card below for exact amounts):

• coffee
• brown sugar
• active dry yeast
• all-purpose flour: You can use bread flour instead.
• whole-wheat flour
• cocoa powder: This adds to color of the bread without making it taste “chocolatey”
• baking soda
• salt
• salted butter
• honey
• molasses: You can substitute maple syrup.
• apple cider vinegar: The apple cider vinegar mixes with the baking soda to create bubbles that translate to a fluffier bread.

How to Make Brown Bread with Molasses

1. In a small bowl or pitcher, mix the warm coffee, yeast, and brown sugar. Mix well and set aside for 5 minutes.
2. Place the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt in an electric mixer or large bowl and mix well. Add the coffee mixture, honey, butter, apple cider vinegar, and molasses, and mix on medium speed until a firm ball of dough forms. Once the ball has formed reduce the speed to slow and knead dough for another 5-6 minutes.
3. Place dough in a large bowl and cover with a towel or plastic wrap (place some small holes in the wrap for air to escape) and let rise for 2 hours in a warm spot.
4. Remove dough and divide into two smooth balls and place on separate cast iron skillets. Loosely cover with towel or plastic wrap for another 45 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the plastic wrap and place an X on the top of each loaf with a serrated knife (optional).
6. Place the skillets on the center rack in the middle and cook for 30 minutes. Remove and place on a cooling rack for 15 minutes and then slice and serve.

Recipe Tips

• To prevent the dough from sticking to the bowl and plastic wrap, you can drizzle it with olive oil.
• If the dough is too “wet,” add more whole wheat flour.
• You can add more salt to your preference.
• If you don’t have cast iron skillets, you can use a baking sheet or pie pans.

Variations

Want to spice things up a bit? Try seasonal coffee flavors, like pumpkin spice or hazelnut. 

Sprinkle old fashioned oats on top before you bake.

More Easy Bread Recipes

• Cheese Quick Bread
• Irish Soda Bread
• Italian Cheese Buns

Molasses Bread

Author: Emily Pecoraro

Molasses Bread is a brown bread that has amazing flavors of coffee, cocoa, brown sugar, honey, and molasses. The bread is soft and has hint of sweetness.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 4 hours hrs

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 149 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 ½ cups warm coffee 100 degrees
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• ▢ 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• ▢ 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons salted butter
• ▢ 1/3 cup honey
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons molasses
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl or pitcher mix the warm coffee, yeast, and brown sugar. Mix well and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Place the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt in an electric mixer or large bowl and mix well. Add the coffee mixture, honey, butter, apple cider vinegar, and molasses, and mix on medium speed until a firm ball of dough forms.
• Once the ball has formed reduce the speed to slow and knead dough for another 5-6 minutes.
• Place dough in a large bowl and cover with a towel or plastic wrap (place some small holes in the wrap for air to escape) and let rise for 2 hours in a warm spot.
• Remove dough and divide into two smooth balls and place on separate cast iron skillets. Loosely cover with towel or plastic wrap for another 45 minutes. (You can also use a baking sheet.)
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the plastic wrap and place an X on the top of each loaf with a serrated knife (optional).
• Place the skillets on the center rack in the middle and cook for 30 minutes.
• Remove and place on a cooling rack for 15 minutes and then slice and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 149kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 84mgPotassium: 111mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg

The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.

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