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a loaf of sweet brown bread on a cutting board with two slices, knife, and napkin.
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5 from 1 vote

Sweet Brown Molasses Bread

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This sweet brown molasses bread recipe is soft and a little sweet. It's a partial whole wheat sandwich loaf made with molasses, cocoa, and coffee powder for color and a hint of sweetness.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Rising times4 hours
Total Time5 hours
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Unspecified
Servings: 20 slices
Calories: 82kcal

Equipment

  • Stand mixer optional

Ingredients

Sponge

  • cup 150 grams whole wheat flour
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or instant coffee or combination of both, for color
  • ¾ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 cup lukewarm water plus more as needed

Bread

  • cup 300 grams bread flour plus more as needed
  • ¾ teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Make the sponge: by hand, combine the whole wheat flour, ¾ teaspoon yeast, molasses, and water in the bowl of your mixer.
    1¼ cup 150 grams whole wheat flour, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or instant coffee, ¾ teaspoons instant yeast, 2 tablespoons molasses, 1 cup lukewarm water
  • Sprinkle the bread flour, ¾ teaspoon yeast, and butter or oil on top of the sponge.
    2½ cup 300 grams bread flour, ¾ teaspoon instant yeast, 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil
  • Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 1 to 4 hours until the sponge is bubbling through the top layer.
  • Mix in the mixer on low speed or by hand. When it starts to come together, move to the hook. It should be slightly sticky – add a sprinkle of more water or flour a bit at a time as needed.
  • Add the salt and then mix on medium low speed for 8 minutes.
    1 teaspoon salt
  • Cover the mixing bowl again with plastic wrap, put it in a cozy, warm place, and let molasses bread dough rise until doubled.
  • Butter or oil a 9 by 5 loaf pan (I use butter because I find it’s easier to get the baked loaf to release). Shape into a loaf (see link below) and let rise in its happy place until the bread has risen about an inch over the side of the pan.
  • Preheat the oven to 375°F
  • Bake your sweet brown bread for 30 minutes, until the internal temp is 195℉ and a thump on the bottom of the loaf gives a hollow sound.

Notes

This sweet brown molasses bread recipe has three stages - a sponge and two rises.
This molasses bread works best with light or classic molasses. If you have dark or blackstrap molasses, use a tablespoon of sugar or other sweetener to counteract the bitterness. Or substitute honey or dark brown sugar if you do not have molasses.
You can use the microwave or oven as a draft-free proofing location – either warm up a cup of water for tea in the microwave or turn on the oven and get it to 80 to 90 degrees. If it’s in the oven just be careful not to pre-heat the oven for some other reason!
In general, if you use a mixer to knead bread dough, be sure to switch to the dough hook when your dough starts to come together or you run the risk of burning out your motor. This molasses bread is not a particularly stiff bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 0.003mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg