Old-Fashioned Boston Brown Bread

A moist, dense, and slightly sweet steamed bread made the traditional way.

Boston Brown Bread is an old-fashioned New England favorite, known for its dark color, hearty texture, and subtle sweetness. Made with a trio of flours—whole wheat, rye, and cornmeal—and sweetened with molasses, this bread is traditionally steamed, not baked, resulting in an incredibly moist crumb. Serve it warm with butter, cream cheese, or alongside baked beans for a rustic, comforting meal.

???? Ingredients (Makes 1 loaf or 4 mini cans)

• Whole wheat flour – 120g
• Rye flour – 60g
• Cornmeal (fine or medium grind) – 90g
• Baking soda – 5g (1 tsp)
• Salt – 2g (½ tsp)
• Buttermilk – 240ml
• Unsulphured molasses – 120ml
• Raisins (optional) – 50g

???? Equipment

• 1 large coffee can or 3–4 cleaned soup cans (greased)
• Large pot or Dutch oven with lid
• Rack or steamer basket
• Foil and string or rubber bands

????‍???? Instructions

1. Prepare the Steaming Cans

Grease the inside of your cans well. If you’re using lids, remove them. Cut foil squares large enough to cover the tops and secure with string or rubber bands.

2. Make the Batter

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk and molasses. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Fold in raisins if using.

3. Fill the Cans

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cans, filling each about ⅔ full. Cover tightly with foil.

4. Set Up the Steamer

Place a rack or steamer basket in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add enough boiling water to reach halfway up the cans. Carefully place the cans on the rack.

5. Steam

Cover the pot with a tight lid and steam over low-medium heat for 2 hours. Check water level every 30 minutes and top off with hot water as needed.

6. Cool & Unmold

Remove the cans and let cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge and gently shake out the bread. Cool completely before slicing.

???? Tips & Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with butter, cream cheese, or jam.
• Perfect with baked beans and sausage or eggs.
• For sweetness, add a touch of orange zest or swap raisins for chopped dates.

???? Nutrition Info (Per 1.5 cm slice, approx. 12 servings)

???? Storage & Freezing

• Room Temp: Wrap tightly and store for up to 3 days.
• Fridge: Keeps well up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Wrap slices or full loaves in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp or toast to warm.