Molasses Brown Soda Bread Recipe
This Molasses Brown Soda Bread is a hearty and flavorful Irish-style bread combining all-purpose and whole wheat flours, enriched with wheat germ and sweetened with molasses. Easy to prepare with no yeast required, it features a tender crumb and a slightly sweet, rich molasses flavor. Perfect for breakfast or alongside soups and stews.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (8 slices) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 ¾ cups (210 g) whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup (20 g) wheat germ
- 1 ½ tsp (9 g) baking soda
- 1 tsp (6 g) salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup (375 ml) buttermilk
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) molasses
- 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it’s hot enough to create a good crust on the bread.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, baking soda, and salt. Stir these together until evenly mixed.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, molasses, and melted butter until fully blended.
- Form the Dough: Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, forming a rough dough.
- Knead Lightly: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently just a couple of times until it forms a smooth ball. Avoid over-kneading to keep the bread tender.
- Shape Dough: Pat the dough into a 7-inch (18 cm) circle.
- Prepare for Baking: Lightly flour a baking sheet, transfer the dough onto it, and dust the top with flour. Using a sharp knife, score a cross about ½ inch (1.25 cm) deep into the top of the dough. This helps with even baking and traditional presentation.
- Initial Bake: Bake the bread at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes to set the crust.
- Reduce Heat and Continue Baking: Lower the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes. The bread is done when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool the Bread: Remove from the oven and immediately wrap the bread in a clean tea towel. Allow it to cool this way; the steam will soften the crust, producing a tender exterior.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice and enjoy your molasses brown soda bread fresh or toasted, ideal with butter or alongside soups and stews.
Notes
- Use freshly sifted flour for best texture.
- Do not over-knead the dough to keep the bread light and tender.
- Buttermilk can be substituted by adding 1 ½ cups milk plus 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice or vinegar, let sit 5 minutes to curdle.
- For a more intense molasses flavor, you can add an additional tablespoon.
- The wrapped tea towel cooling method helps keep the crust soft.
Keywords: molasses brown soda bread, Irish soda bread, whole wheat bread, easy bread recipe, quick bread, molasses bread
Find it online: https://tastygenius.com/molasses-brown-soda-bread-recipe/
