Homemade Beer Bread

image courtesy of grshortstop.blogspot.com

What: Homemade Beer Bread

Rating: 9

Non-Quantifiable Rating: In case your New Year's Resolution is for more butter, and more yumminess.

Happy New Year!  It's almost embarrassing when people ask me for this recipe, because it's so insanely simple.  In fact, you could probably get away with successfully baking this bread even after drinking several rounds of the primary ingredient.  Normally I prefer healthier, whole wheat bread, but every once in a while you just need to dump butter on something.  This is that thing.  It's super easy, super yummy, and goes great with cheese fondue (post forthcoming!)  It's made from things that are probably already in your pantry, so if you start now, you could have steaming hot, freshly baked bread on your table in just over an hour! Thanks to shortstop for the recipe!

BEER BREAD (adapted from grshortstop.blogspot.com)

Makes: 1 9x5 loaf

INGREDIENTS:

- 3 cups flour

- 1/3 cups sugar

- 1 tablespoon baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 (12 ounce) bottle of beer (I used Michelob Golden Light, because I like to keep it super classy)

- 3 tablespoons butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9" x 5" loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Add beer and mix until combined (dough will be sticky). Place dough into loaf pan. Pour melted butter over top of loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered.  The original recipe calls for 50-60 minutes, but it took mine closer to 80 to turn nice and golden brown (not sure why - just keep an eye on it, this is a forgiving recipe). You're done when the color looks right or a toothpick comes out clean from the center.