Boston brown bread can be made with just four main ingredients if you want to keep it super simple. You can skip add-ins like raisins and still get the classic bread that is dense and a little sweet from molasses.

Minimal Ingredients

Makes 1 small loaf.

• 1½ cups flour mix (about ⅔ cup cornmeal and ⅔ cup wheat or rye flour)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ cup molasses

• 1 cup buttermilk or milk

• Raisins 

Simple Steps

Grease a loaf pan (or clean cans) and preheat your oven to 325°F.

1. Mix the dry ingredients together.

2. Stir in the molasses and milk until everything is combined.

3. Pour the batter into the pan and cover it with foil.

4. Bake it in a water bath for about 1 hour, until it’s done. Let it cool, then slice and eat.