5 from 3 votes
Sweet Brown Molasses Bread
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 Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Rising times
4 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs
Servings:
20
slices
Calories:
82 kcal
Course:
Bread
Cuisine:
International
Ingredients
Sponge
- 1¼ cup whole wheat flour 150 grams
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or combination of both, for color, or instant coffee
- ¾ teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 cup water plus more as needed, lukewarm
Bread
- 2½ cup bread flour plus more as needed, 300 grams
- 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.
- Sprinkle the bread flour, ¾ teaspoon yeast, and butter or oil on top of the sponge.
- 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.
- 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.
Cup of Yum
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!
- 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 Information
Calories
82kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
16g
(5%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
0.4g
(2%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Trans Fat
0.02g
(1%)
Cholesterol
2mg
(1%)
Sodium
122mg
(5%)
Potassium
59mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
18IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
0.003mg
(0%)
Calcium
8mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 20 slices
Amount Per Serving
Calories 82
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 82kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 2mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 122mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 59mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 18IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.003mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 8mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.