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Two loaves of brown bread on a cooling rack.

Oatmeal Molasses Brown Bread

A sweet, traditional Atlantic Canadian loaf
Prep Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cuisine Canadian
Servings 2 loaves

Equipment

  • 1 Stand mixer with dough hook
  • 2 Bread/loaf pans
  • 1 Large bowl
  • 1 Small bowl

Ingredients
  

Yeast Mixture

  • 1 package traditional yeast (2¼ tsp) (not instant yeast)
  • 1 tsp white sugar

Other Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 tbsp shortening
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ cup molasses (I use Crosby's Fancy Molasses)
  • 4.5-5 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions
 

Make the yeast mixture

  • Add ¼ cup lukewarm (105-115℉) water to a small bowl.
  • Stir in 1 tsp white sugar.
  • Sprinkle 1 package of traditional yeast over the sugar water. Do not stir.

Mix the dough

  • To the mixer bowl, add the rolled oats. Pour 2 cups of very hot (near boiling) water over and stir.
  • Stir in the sugar, molasses, shortening, and salt.
  • When this mixture has cooled to lukewarm, and when the yeast mixture is frothy, stir the yeast mixture into the dough mixture.
  • Add 4 cups of flour and mix on low speed for 1 minute.
  • Still mixing, add flour in gradual, ¼ cup increments until the dough clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl. Knead on the same speed for 2-4 more minutes, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and only slightly sticky.

Rising stage

  • Place the dough in a large, greased bowl, turning to ensure the dough is greased all over. Cover and let rest in a warm place for 90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
  • Punch down and turn the dough on a floured board. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces. Shape the dough loosely into loaf shapes and place each loaf into a greased bread pan.
  • Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until almost doubled in size.

Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 400℉
  • Once preheated, bake the loaves in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes.
Keyword Bread, Vegetarian