Oatmeal Raisin Molasses Bread

DH loved the bread his grandmother always made. This is the closest we ever got to it. Use a bread machine for the dough and bake in the oven.

• Preparation Time: 2 hr
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 122 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ¾ cup molasses
• 1 ½ cups boiling water
• 1 ½ cups raisins
• 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 4 ½ cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon white sugar, divided
• ¼ cup warm water (about 100 degrees F/38 degrees C)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Place oats, molasses, butter, and salt into the bread maker bowl; add the boiling water.

Step 3

Measure 1/4 teaspoon sugar into a small cup and set aside. Pour remaining sugar into the oat mixture and stir. Let mixture cool to about 100 degrees F/38 degrees C, about 20 minutes.

Step 4

Pour warm water into the reserved sugar in the small cup; add yeast.

Step 5

Pour bread flour atop the oat mixture. Pour yeast mixture over the flour.

Step 6

Select Dough setting and press start. Check your owner's manual to see how long the kneading lasts, so you can add raisins to the dough 5 minutes before it finishes kneading. Let the bread maker run the full dough cycle, about 1 hour, though it will depend on your machine.

Step 7

Grease 2 bread pans.

Step 8

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Punch down dough, but do not knead. Separate into two loaves and place in prepared pans; cover each with a damp towel and allow to rise for about 1 hour.

Step 9

Bake in preheated oven until the top is golden brown and the bottom of loaf sounds hollow when tapped, 15 to 20 minutes.