Stout (Beer) Bread

Amazing flavor and so easy to make! This is a sweet bread similar to banana bread in texture. Serve warm with cinnamon butter or cream cheese. Make it plain or add craisins, dates, nuts, or let your imagine go wild. If you are not weighing the flour besure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup; it's important to have the correct amount of flour otherwise you'll be disappointed! Original recipe was found on Simply Recipes, however I've made a few adjustments!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• Basic Bread

• 3  cups flour (13.5 ounces)
• 3 3⁄4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup white sugar
• 1⁄3 cup molasses
• 12  ounces  of guinness beer (or similar stout beer)
• 1⁄4 cup butter, melted
•  nonstick cooking spray

• Optional Additions

• 1⁄2 cup craisins (optional)
• 1⁄2 cup raisins (optional)
• 1⁄2 cup  walnuts  nuts (optional)
• 1⁄2 cup dates, chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick.(butter flavored) spray.
3. Into a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
4. Slowly pour half of the beer into the flour mixture and stir (The pub cans of Guinness are larger than 12 ounces, but they have better carbonation, so use what you need and drink ;=) the rest.).
5. Add the molasses and stir in the balance of the beer.
6. Stir in optional craisins, dates, or nuts.
7. NOTE: Stir just enough to blend in the flour but DO NOT over mix or you'll end up with a beer brick!
8. Pour into the prepared loaf pan (no more than 2/3 full).
9. Bake for 45 - 55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
10. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, and then turn it out onto a rack.
11. Drizzle or brush the butter on the top of the bread.