Last night, I went to my friend Lyle’s apartment in Brooklyn. We cooked a delicious lentil soup, sipped wine, baked cookies, danced to holiday music and bedazzled her Christmas tree. Although it’s already well into December and Christmas is only two weeks away, it was the first night I really felt “the holiday spirit” seeping into my bones. But once it’s there, there’s no turning back.
I woke up this morning craving some time in the kitchen and the oldies Christmas station on Pandora. So I went to the store for some yeast, threw on my stretch pants, and covered myself in flour.
The result is a bread that is at once dense and fluffy, and packs a hearty, flavorful punch. It uses a mix of whole grains and rich molasses, and would be delicious served toasted with goat cheese, with your breakfast eggs, and even with peanut butter and jelly.
MULTI-GRAIN MOLASSES BREAD
Adapted from this recipe for Oatmeal Wheat Bread
- 1 c. almond milk
- 1/2 c. rolled oats, plus additional for garnish
- 1/4 c. warm water
- 1 T active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 T molasses
- 1/3 c. applesauce (unsweetened)
- 1.5 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 c. spelt flour
- 2 t salt
- 1 T flax meal + 3 T water
Makes one loaf
Heat almond milk in a small saucepan over low heat until hot but not boiling. Stir in oats. Let stand, stirring occasionally.
Stir yeast, 1/4 c. water and 1/2 t. molasses together into a small bowl. It should foam after a few minutes. 
Stir remaining molasses, applesauce, and yeast mixture into cooling oats + almond milk.
In a large bowl, mix together whole wheat flour, 1/2 c. spelt flour and salt. Add oat mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.
Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface (I used the remaining spelt) and coat hands with enough flour to keep dough from sticking. This is a VERY sticky dough, so you’ll probably need a lot of flour.
Form dough into a ball, and transfer into a bowl coated with cooking spray. Roll ball around to coat. Cover bowl with a cloth and let dough rise at room temperature 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 375 and coat your loaf pan with cooking spray. Punch your ball of dough and knead it a few times to release the air, then lightly press it into loaf pan.
Brush with flax-water mixture and garnish with oats. Bake until crust is golden brown and bread makes a hollow sound when you thump! the top of it, 30-40 minutes.
After it cooled, I sliced myself a nice thick piece and slathered it with butter and French lavender honey.
Now I feel festive.
That looks delicious! I’m bookmarking that
2 weeks until Christmas? When the heck did that happen! Is there anything better than homemaking bread? So delicious and I love knowing everything that goes into a good loaf. Yours looks gorgeous
It this crazy to admit but making bread and working with yeast scares me! I have a fear of ruining it all! Not to mention I cant actually eat the gluten but honestly I would love to bake bread for my family..you inspire me w/ this recipe! yum!
Ohhh my goodness this sounds amazing. Love how dense it is! Does it taste much like gingerbread?
thank you so much for the congratulations!
that bread looks awesome. the last time i tried to bake bread was like years ago, when i was really into baking. i made this like pumpkin bread, but not like a quick bread. it was okay? i spent the whole time wondering i killed the yeast and if it was rising. ggah! too stressful lol. but you looked like you rocked it!
After having to make bread for one of my classes this past semester, I am far less intimidated by the process–I might just have to make this later this weekend!
Yum! This looks so wonderful–I love that it has all the flavorings/additions one might expect in a quick bread (like molasses, applesauce, oatmeal), but it’s actually a yeast bread! Great surprise
This looks really good- I have had mixed results with bread in the past but I think I have all of these ingredients already…
thanks for the recipe!
Meri
Sounds really yummy! Especially for the holidays.
and nowwwww i want goat cheese haha.
that bread looks so moist and delicious! i love the oat flakes on top
glad you had such a fun time with your friend! it’s so much fun when the holiday spirit finally kicks in! i think mine will kick in officially on wednesday when i can kick this semester gooooodbye
Wow this bread looks absolutely fabulous. I am your newest follower.
xo
Aww, what a cozy little setting! I love the holidays because there’s so much lovely coziness!