Broonie

Broonie is an extremely moist Irish molasses oatmeal cake that comes together quickly. This molasses cake is so heavenly that it is perfect for the holidays.

This post may contain affiliate links which I earn a small portion in sales if a purchase is made. Rest assured though, it is never at any additional cost to you.

Some of my most cherished possessions since my parents have passed have been the handwritten family recipes.

Most of them are written in my mom’s handwriting and seeing it floods me with all kinds of sweet memories.

I love seeing how old and stained the paper is. Also, many of them were written quickly and very informally. These papers were never meant to be seen by anyone outside of our immediate family.

Honestly, if my mom were alive today she would be so embarrassed that I am sharing this photo. She would not like how her handwriting looks and would probably insist that I type it out.

But that is the charm of it.

So this Broonie has been in our family since the 1980’s and I am not fully sure where it came from. I copied the recipe (the smaller card) sometime in the early 2000’s and had forgotten about it until recently.

I am beyond excited that I found these handwritten versions because this cake is just plain amazing. So amazing that my husband calls this cake gingerbread glory. Also, it has many wholesome ingredients which makes me even happier.

If you love old cherished family recipes too then you will adore my Mom’s Chicken Gumbo Soup, Mom’s Sweet and Sour Chicken and  Mom’s Classic Meatloaf for dinner. However, if you have a sweet tooth, you have to try Mom’s Old Fashioned Swedish Apple Cake, Mom’s Lemon Butter Bundt Cake, Mom’s Frozen Peanut Butter Pie and the holiday classic my Mom’s Walnut Balls. All of these recipes are extremely tried and true and so very delicious. 

What is Broonie?

Broonie is a classic Molasses Oatmeal Gingerbread type of cake. It does taste somewhat like gingerbread, however, molasses is the dominant flavor. It is a very moist cake that crisps up on the edges very similar to how brownies do. But note, this is definitely not a brownie. Also, Scotland and England both have slightly different variations of their Broonie recipes.

Best Spices To Use

The quality of spices makes a world of difference in the taste of cooked and baked recipes. Because of this, spice brands that do not use irradiation, are organic and taste amazing are what I keep my cupboard stocked with. For this Broonie recipe I adore this Ground Ginger and Ceylon Cinnamon.

Did you know that both Ginger and Ceylon Cinnamon are powerhouses of health benefits? 

Unsulfured Molasses

Unsulfured Molasses is an extraction made from mature sugarcane, whereas sulfured molasses is made from immature sugar cane that is treated with sulfur dioxide. Britannica.com defines surfer dioxide as “(SO₂), inorganic compound, a heavy, colourless, poisonous gas.” The bottomline, Unsulfured Molasses comes with less risk in my opinion.

How To Make Quick Cooking Oats Out Of Rolled Oats

Regular rolled oats are easily turned into quick cooking oats by simply processing in a food processor with a few pulses. This breaks down the oats just enough that they become quick cooking. However, just be sure to not over-process and turn the oats into oat flour. If that doesn’t happen, simply save the oat flour to make Oat Flour Pancakes and try again.

When To Serve Broonie

This Broonie recipe would be phenomenal on Thanksgiving after eating Turkey and Mashed Potatoes for those who dislike pumpkin pie. Also, because it has the flavor of Christmas, it would be divine for a family Christmas party. Additionally, this cake is very simple to make, making it perfect for a Fall or Winter non-holiday dessert.

If you enjoyed this Broonie please let me know by leaving a comment and review below. Doing so helps to encourage others to make the recipe also. Thank you!