Making Beer Bread

What follows is the basic list of ingredients for a successful batch of beer bread, but read on after you score the recipe. That's when things get really interesting.

Are you ready?

Ingredients:

1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons white sugar

Done!

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and flour. Add beer and continue to mix, first using a wooden spoon, then your hands. Batter will be sticky. Pour into a 9 x 5 inch greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees ) for 50 for 60 minutes.

...And Done!

Wait! Don't run off we're just getting started. How about if we add some stuff? But before we go bananas, (yes you can add those too) let's get a basic understanding of how ingredients affect your end product.

Sugar

Sugar will act as a leavening agent, causing your bread to interact with the yeast and rise. If you use too much you get the opposite effect.

Salt

Salt will retard the leavening process with the yeast, but it does make the bread taste better. Use it in moderation.

Oil

You will want a bit of oil in your mix to make your loaf more pliable and less crumbly. An egg will have the same effect.

That's it! you're ready to go to town.

Here are some recipes that I have had success with

Mexican

Basic Bread Recipe
small can of drained corn
1 Egg
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
minced jalepeno peppers to taste

Remember to add the cheese slowly or it will all clump together.

Onion Whole Wheat

In the basic recipe, substitute whole wheat flour, but remember to add a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda or it will not rise!
1/2 cup of dried minced onions
1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Garlic Bread

Basic Bread Recipe
4 or 5 cloves of fresh minced garlic
1/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil

Here are some other ingredients to try:

dried herbs (fresh ones will turn your bread greenish unless you wash out the clorophyll)
nuts
fruits
vegetables
sausage

The list goes on forever.

Different types of beer bread can be made by using different beers, a stout or dark beer will give a darker bread with a heavier flavor. Using a beer that is spiced, or has a flavor added will make a bread with a similar flavor, but less intense than the beer.

Here's a great one that I do. Cut back on the flour and make the mixture like that of pancake batter. Then, make some beer pancakes with various toppings for a delicious side dish.

I'd love to hear about your adventures in beer. Drop a comment.