Boston Brown Bread Recipe Recipe My grandmother, mother, daughter, and I make Boston Brown Bread every Christmas. It’s unique, because you bake the loaves in vegetable or fruit cans.

Ingredients:
1 pound chopped dates
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups sugar
1⁄2 cup shortening
2 eggs
4 cups sift ed all- purpose fl our
1 cup walnut pieces
1 cup raisins
Six 14- to 16- ounce empty, clean
vegetable or fruit cans

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. Combine the dates and baking soda in a bowl. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the mixture and let stand for 5 minutes.

3. Combine the sugar, shortening, and eggs in a large bowl. Using a mixer, beat at medium- high speed until creamy.

4. Add the date mixture and flour and stir until well blended. Add the nuts and raisins; mix well.

5. Fill the cans about two- thirds full with batter. Bake for 11⁄4 hours until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Cool in the cans on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing the bread from the cans and returning to the rack to cool completely.

Notes and Tips:
To grease the cans, use a paper towel dipped in a small amount of vegetable oil.

To remove the bread from the cans, turn the cans upside down and gently shake or tap to loosen the bread. Gently tug the top of the bread to remove.

Boston Brown Bread