Source Attribution
Original Cookbook Name: The Black Family Reunion Cookbook
Published By: The National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
Year of Publication: 1991
Page Number: 26
Author / Contributor: Listed under “Heritage Recipe” (specific contributor not named)
“Soul Bread” is a deeply rooted traditional recipe celebrated within African American family and church gatherings. This dense, molasses-rich bread draws on Southern and African culinary influences, blending cornmeal and sweet potato—two staples of Black food heritage. The use of long, slow baking and steaming preserves moisture and flavor, evoking the communal warmth of home kitchens during family reunions and Sunday dinners. Recipes like this one reflect the creativity and resilience of African American cooks who transformed humble, accessible ingredients into nourishing, celebratory dishes.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 2½ cups boiling water
- 1 small sweet potato
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1¼ cups molasses
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Combine cornmeal, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Pour in boiling water. Beat with an electric mixer until well mixed.
- Boil the sweet potato until tender. Peel while hot. Add to the meal mixture. Beat 10 minutes. Add cold water. Beat well. Add flour and molasses. Beat well.
- Cover. Place in a warm, draft-free place overnight.
- Heat oven to 250°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.
- Stir baking soda into the bread mixture. Pour into the pan.
- Bake at 250°F for 3 hours.
- Remove from oven. Cover the pan tightly with foil to steam the bread. Cool at least 1 hour before removing from the pan.
Editor’s Note
This bread bakes at a very low temperature, similar to traditional steamed puddings. The long bake allows the molasses and sweet potato to create a rich, almost cake-like texture. Serve warm with butter for breakfast or alongside savory dishes.
Cultural Insight
The inclusion of cornmeal and molasses ties this recipe to early African American foodways, where these ingredients were readily available and symbolized resourcefulness. Sweet potato, long cherished in West African cuisine, was adopted and adapted in Southern cooking, becoming central to “soul food” traditions. Recipes like “Soul Bread” would have been cherished in communal gatherings such as family reunions, church homecomings, or Kwanzaa celebrations, reinforcing the themes of unity and heritage.
Visual Reference
