Bake Sweet Molasses Brown Bread for Cozy Comfort Today Recipe
This Sweet Molasses Brown Bread recipe offers a cozy and comforting homemade bread with a rich, slightly chocolatey flavor from cocoa powder and hearty whole wheat flour. It is naturally sweetened with molasses and honey, delivering a tender, moist loaf topped with buttery oats for added texture and rustic charm. Perfect for breakfast or as a wholesome snack, this bread combines ease of preparation with delightful taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 3 loaves 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2.5 cups warm water
- 1.5 tablespoons instant yeast
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons table salt
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 3 to 4 cups bread flour
For the Topping
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- Old-fashioned oats, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine warm water, instant yeast, molasses, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, honey, salt, and 2 cups of whole wheat flour. Mix until well blended to form a starter dough.
- Add Remaining Flour and Knead: Gradually add the remaining whole wheat flour and bread flour while mixer runs. Continue kneading for 5-7 minutes, or until the dough is soft, tacky, and pulls away cleanly from the bowl sides.
- First Rise: Transfer the dough to a large lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean, slightly sprayed dish towel. Let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Shape Loaves: Punch down the risen dough and divide into two or three equal pieces depending on desired loaf size. Shape each piece into a tight oval loaf and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them evenly.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaves again and allow them to rise until puffy and doubled, about 45 to 60 minutes more.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the loaves for 25 minutes until they start turning golden brown.
- Add Toppings and Finish Baking: Remove loaves from oven and brush tops with melted butter. Sprinkle with old-fashioned oats for texture and rustic appearance. Return to oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until fully cooked through and crusty on top.
- Cool and Serve: Allow bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing to prevent sogginess. Serve warm with butter or honey if desired.
Notes
- For a rustic artisan look, make three slashes across the top of each loaf before baking.
- Serve warm with butter or honey to enhance the natural sweetness.
- Use a stand mixer with dough hook to ensure proper kneading and dough development.
- Make sure water is warm but not hot to properly activate the yeast.
Keywords: sweet molasses bread, brown bread, homemade bread, molasses bread, whole wheat bread, cocoa bread, easy bread recipe, baking bread at home
