Ingredients
Cooking spray
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. Kosher salt
1/4 c. granulated sugar
12 oz. beer
1/2 c. unsalted butter, melted, divided
1 c. cheddar, shredded (optional
Caramelized onions, bacon bits, sliced jalapeños (optional
Preparation
Step 1Adjust an oven rack to center position, and preheat the oven to 375°. Spray a standard loaf pan with cooking spray.Step 2In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the beer along with ¼ cup of the melted butter. Stir to combine, and then fold in the shredded cheese or any other optional mix-ins.Step 3Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, and smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Pour the remaining ¼ cup of the melted butter on top.Step 4Bake the bread for 1 hour, or until golden brown, and a toothpick when inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then invert it onto a cutting board. When the bread is cool, slice and serve. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Slices can be frozen and toasted to refresh.
The beer pulls double duty here, serving both as a boost to the leaveners and the flavor of the bread. Beer bread can be a delicious accompaniment to any hearty soup, makes for a killer lunch or dinner sandwich, and is delicious enough to stand on its own with a simple slather of butter. Traditionally, it’s made with all of the butter poured on top, but this can result in a bread with a too-tough crust. Our tweak: add half of the butter to the batter, giving the bread a richness throughout while also reducing messy oven splatter. Win win. The beer you use will affect the taste, so like any ingredient, use something you love. Porters and stouts will give it a chocolate-y, malty vibe, while IPAs could add a bit of bitterness to the end product. That 6-pack of pumpkin beer you bought on a whim, but no one in your household really loves? Throw one of those in there to give it new life. We’ve added cheddar to give our version a little extra oomph, but you can feel free to experiment with your own mix-ins. Caramelized onions, bacon bits, or chopped jalapeños would be great too. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
