Sweet Molasses Brown Bread

Anyone else obsessed with the yummy brown bread that's served at popular steakhouses?  It is seriously delicious and I've never been able to figure out how to recreate that bread at home.  UNTIL NOW!!!  Guess what?  I've cracked the secret to that delicious steakhouse brown bread - along with the help of some very informative websites. Turns out - the secret is a touch of ---- COCOA POWDER!  Who would have guessed? 

I've tried to make brown bread in the past by using molasses and wheat flour to create the golden brown color but the flavor has never been quite right.  It never even crossed my mind to add cocoa powder to a bread dough until I found that little hint on Pinterest. 

It might seem like a strange ingredient to add to bread but trust me on this one - it adds a whole new depth of flavor.  You'll never be able to taste the cocoa powder but it does amazing things to this bread. 

Sweet Molasses Brown Bread
4 teaspoons yeast
1 cup warm water
1 egg
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup honey
3 1/2 Tablespoons molasses
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
2 cups whole wheat flour

Combine yeast and water in the bowl of an electric mixer and let stand 10 minutes.

Add all remaining ingredients (except whole wheat flour) to mixer and beat with paddle for 1 minute.

Switch to dough hook and add whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup at a time.

Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours.

Cut dough into 16 equal pieces and shape into rolls.  Place in a greased 9x13 inch pan.  Cover and let rise 1 hour.

Bake 22 minutes at 350.  Brush with melted butter.

Enjoy!!

So long pricey steakhouse dinners - it's Big Green Egg steaks and homemade sweet molasses brown bread for this family. 

Ciao!

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