Molasses Brown Bread Rolls

Fall is all about warm, spicy flavors, hearty breads, and good food.  This recipe for molasses brown bread ticks all those boxes. I made these rolls to enjoy with a warm bowl of soup and it added so much flavor to the meal.  But this bread can throw you some curve balls. Let’s chat.

 

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This recipe was originally published on October 24, 2019.  It was republished on October 21, 2021 with updates.

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Molasses Brown Bread

 

When I first looked at this recipe from Hostess at Heart, I thought they might be a bit too sweet.  I mean, brown sugar, molasses, and honey?!  But the whole wheat flour and bite of the molasses make this a mildly sweet roll that works wonders with a savory meal.

Fair warning though.  This bread is not mild in flavor at all.  It’s got a lot going on.  Despite the strong flavor of molasses, I think this is a very versatile loaf that would work well with a lot of Fall meals.

 

 

Making the Dough

 

This molasses brown bread dough is a stiff, sticky mess!  When you’re kneading the dough, be careful not to add too much flour.  You don’t want it to be an unmanageable sticky mess, but too much flour will produce a dry roll.  Aim for a moist dough that doesn’t stick to the counter. You could also try kneading with your stand mixer.

To shape the rolls, check out my step by step video. You’ll want to portion out the dough into equal amounts.  Then shape your hand into a C and cup it slightly over the dough ball. Move your hand in a circular motion to bring the dough together.  The dough should drag slightly on the counter. If your dough is too dry, lightly dampen the counter to give it some grip.

 

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Baking Problems

 

If you’ve ever watched The Great British Baking Show, you know that adding cocoa powder to anything is going to give you issues with bake times.  You cannot judge if this bread is ready by checking the color. And because the rolls are touching, you can’t lift one up and feel for doneness.

So what’s a little ole home baker to do?  The best method is to check the internal temperature.  You want the rolls to reach 190℉. I honestly don’t know any other way to determine if they are done.  All ovens are different, so you may need a few minutes more or less compared to my bake time.

 

 

Blunders?

 

The first time I made these rolls (two years ago!) was not perfect.  My biggest blunder was relying on the recipe and not the internal temperature to determine when to take the molasses brown bread rolls out of the oven.  

I just assumed the original recipe was right and I didn’t need to check. Well, my husband ripped into his and, with his best Paul Hollywood impression, said “It’s under baked.” Oops.  Luckily, I’ve learned a thing or two since then.

 

Related Reading: Do I Really Need a Stand Mixer?

 

How to Fix Under Baked Bread

 

It’s actually not the end of the world if your bread is under baked.  You have a window of about 2 hours when you can still chuck the bread back into the oven for an extra 10- 20 minutes to get that internal temperature up.

This will dry out the bread a tiny bit, but I’ll take dry over doughy any day.  You can always slather bread in butter to add a bit of moisture, but there’s no saving a doughy texture.

 

 

Top Tips for Yeast Breads

 

• Make sure your liquid is between 100℉- 115℉ before you add your yeast.
• Knead the dough until it passes the window pane test.  You should be able to gently stretch a small bit of dough until you can see light through it.
• Is your house cold? Preheat your oven to its lowest setting while you prep the dough, then turn it off.  Let your dough rise (covered) in the warm oven. 

 

 

Danish Dough Whisk

 

So I bought a Danish dough whisk, two of them actually, a few months ago.  We were about to move, but they were on sale (I want to say Amazon Prime Day…) and I’ve always been curious.  Well, I finally decided to use it instead of my stand mixer.

I love it!  Is it absolutely necessary?  No. But I will say that it brought my dough together quicker and easier than a wooden spoon.  If you love making bread by hand, it’s totally worth spending a few bucks on one of these goofy looking contraptions.   

 

Related Reading: Kolache: A Slovakian Walnut Roll

 

Enjoy!

 

Molasses brown bread rolls are packed with warm, spicy flavors that you love to eat this time of the year.  Make a batch today and enjoy them with a warm, savory dinner. 

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