Step 1

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.

Step 2

Using a large bowl, stir the flour,brown sugar,and salt together. Add the butter. Work the butter into the mixture until you have crumbs using a pastry blender or rubbing the mixture together with your fingers. Take out 1 1/2 cups of crumbs, reserve for the topping.

Step 3

In a large bowl combine the boiling water,molasses and baking soda, mix well with a whisk. Make sure to use a large bowl, when the baking soda is added it foams up quiet a bit.

Step 4

Add 1/2 the liquid to the crumb mixture. Mix until moist and smooth. Add the remaining liquid and mix until just incorporated, the batter will be slightly runny.

Step 5

Pour the batter into your prepared pan, top with reserved crumbs. press crumbs into the batter lightly. Bake 45 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.