Whenever I think of molasses, the first thought that comes to my mind is my grandmother’s “Molasses Cake”. Even though Grammie has been gone for many years now, I swear I can still smell and taste that dark, delicious, moist cake. Over the years I have tried to recreate this dessert but have never had any luck. Grammie cooked on a woodstove/oven and I think that may well be the element I am missing.
I also have fond memories of my dad coming home for lunch and after the noon meal he always had a cup of tea. If there were no sweets in the house, he always buttered up a couple slices of bread and smothered the bread in a thick layer of yummy molasses.
Here in the Maritime provinces, molasses is an intricate part of our culinary history. It is extremely versatile and can be used for a variety of goodies, all of which would be perfect to add to your holiday repertoire!
The highest grade of molasses available, Fancy Molasses is the pure juice of the sugar cane, condensed, inverted and purified. It is 100% natural and contains no additives or preservatives. It is a bit lighter in colour than the other molasses products, and the flavour is tangy sweet. All the recipes on the Crosby website are made with Fancy Molasses.
Uses: Fancy molasses is an excellent topping on toast, pancakes or biscuits and is a great addition to marinades, rubs and sauces. It is a popular ingredient in baked goods, yielding softer cookies and crustier bread.
Blackstrap Molasses is the highly-concentrated, final by-product of the refined sugar manufacturing process. As the sugar crystallizes, the residual cane juice thickens into a dark mass and is separated out through a centrifuge. The resulting molasses is very dark with a robust, somewhat bitter flavour. Like the fancy molasses, it is a pure product and contains no added sulphates or sulphites.
Uses: Blackstrap molasses is often used as a colouring agent in foods. Some prefer the more robust flavour of blackstrap molasses when preparing foods like baked beans or gingerbread. Blackstrap molasses is also recognized for its health benefits and is an excellent source of many minerals and nutrients including iron, magnesium and calcium.
Cooking Molasses is a blend of blackstrap and fancy molasses. It is thicker and darker than fancy molasses — less sweet, with a more “full-flavoured” taste.
Uses: It is commonly used to flavour sweets and cookies like gingersnaps, and is also excellent in baked beans and a variety of sauces such as barbeque and sweet-and-sour sauce. Any product made with Cooking Molasses will have a much more robust “molasses” flavour than if Fancy Molasses is used.
You also may be surprised to learn that molasses is not just for gingerbread cookies and baked beans. Crosby’s has a comprehensive section of recipes on their website, including categories for making:
- Bread
- Cakes
- Candies
- Desserts
- Entrees
- Frosting
- Gingerbread
- Muffins
- Pies
- Special Treats
- Starters
If you would like to check out all of the delicious recipes and learn more about using molasses in your everyday cooking and baking, you can stay in touch with Crosby’s Molasses by following them on:
Recipes ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ YouTube ~ E-mail
And in keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, Crosby’s Molasses is giving you a FREE E-BOOK with 20 recipes for holiday treats! How nice is that!
{Photo attribution: Bridget Oland, Crosby’s Molasses}
In addition, to help you with your holiday baking and cooking, the kind people at Crosby’s Molasses are giving one lucky reader a bundle of goodies! The bundle includes a cookbook, fabric bag, cookie cutter and 675 g package of molasses!
DATES – Giveaway opens December 12th and closes at 12:01AM on December 21st.
ELIGIBILITY – Open to all residents of Canada ( No P.O. Boxes please.)
TO ENTER – Using the Rafflecopter form below, simply follow the instructions, complete the mandatory entry, (which unlocks the optional entries), plus any or all of the optional entries for your chance to win this amazing prize! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
{Disclaimer: The product or products mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Older Mommy Still Yummy. As always, the opinions expressed are my own. No monetary compensation was received.}
I think I’d have to make the Pumpkin Creme Brulee first. It looks very interesting.
I would love to try their gingersnaps as these are my hubby’s favorite cookies.
Thanks for letting me know about the ebook! Molasses has such a unique flavour (like ginger does too) and our family loves it! Off to go download that book now …. :)
I only ever use molasses at Christmas. But, never on nuts. Thanks I am going to pin it :)
I have never bought molasses before but I have so many un tried recipes that require it. Thanks for the giveaway. I would make some old fashioned gingerbread men :)
I would love to try the peanut brittle as my family loves peanut brittle and it would be perfect for my Christmas snacking table and for gifting.
Hot Apple Cider
Gasp! I’ve never tried a recipe before with molasses, but you have just pushed me to do so! The cookies and nuts look SO GOOD!
The molasses cookies and crinkles both look good. I make these every year for my dad!
I have never heard of this before. My grandma always used Molasses in recipes but I have never. I surely will give it a try. Sounds so good
December 13-I would like to try the Orange Muffins first!
Love to make the Devils Food Cake
fruit and nut fudge
I’d like to try the Molasses Peanut Butter Cookies.
Pineapple upsidedown gingerbread would be so good.Would love to try that one!
Like you I have been using molasses for many years,but was surprises to learn that there is a midway point between “fancy” and “blackstrap” molasses.
You or your readers might be surprised to learn that baked salmon with molasses is also very delicious.
I would love to make the Pumpkin Creme Brulee. Sounds devine!
The Molasses Sticky Buns looks delicious!
I must must must try Molasses Taffy
I’d love to try Peanut Brittle.
I’d like to try the Peanut Butter Granola.
I’d love to make the Walnut Clusters.
I would love to try making the peanut brittle. Thanks
The Molasses Feather Cake looks delish: http://www.crosbys.com/recipes-molasses-feather-cake.asp
The Molasses Feather Cake sounds yummy!
I would like to try the quick ginger cookies recipe
carrot cake :)
I would like to try the Buttery Molasses Fudge.
I would love to try the gingersnaps
I want to try the molasses doughnuts!
the peanut brittle sounds good
I’d love to make the Molasses Eggnog, sounds really yummy :-)
Apple Gingerbread Upside Down Cake!
I’d love to make the Buttery Molasses Fudge.
I would make the Oatmeal bread looks so amazing…
I would try the Nuggers
Pumpkin Creme Brûlée
I would love to try the Devils Food Cake.
Well this is ironic. I was just kicking myself for not having molasses on hand when I went to make baked beans tonight. I would love to try their baked beans, and I also see a meatballs recipe that looks like fun!
The Gingersnaps recipe
I’d love to try Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars.
The fruit and nut fudge!
apple gingerbread upside down cake!
I’d like to try the devil’s food cake.
I want to try the molasses peanut butter cookies
thanks
The Upside Down Ham Loaf! A very different recipe that sounds awesome.
Everything looks delicious. I might try the Molasses Apple Crisp
Molasses crinkles! That’s my kind of cookie!
I’d like to try Molasses Chicken Wings.
Molasses Shrimp! What is not to like with shrimp, molasses and rum?!
I was hoping to see a recipe for Newfoundland Lassy Bread or Buns :)
I’d make the Old Time Christmas Cake. It looks just like the one Nan used to make.
peanut brittle
Would love to try the Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars.
I’d like to try Pineapple Upside-Down Gingerbread.
Peanut brittle for sure!!!
Molasses Peanut Butter Cookies
I will be trying the brown bread recipe.
gingersnaps omgggg
Ginger snaps
My dark fruitcake recipe wouldn’t be the same without a healthy dose of Fancy Molasses (and brandy of course).
Sounds yummy Graeme!
I’d love to try the meatballs or the shrimp or the salmon…..
The gingerbread
I would love to try the Mincemeat Pie.
I want to try the molasses popcorn balls
Pumpkin Creme Brulee < I love Creme Brulee
Crock pot Caramel Crunch Candy :)
I would love to make the Broccoli Salad :)
Pumpkin creme brulee
The Hot Cross Buns recipe looks wonderful!