Beer Batter Bread (almost No Fat)

Submitted by Toby Jermain

"I can't remember where I got this recipe, but I have had it for a long time, and the bread is especially good for a quick-bread. I normally just do yeast-breads."

 

• Ready In: 55mins
• Ingredients: 5
• Yields: 1 loaf
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 3 cups unbleached flour (or replace up to half with whole wheat flour)
• 3 1⁄2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 12 ounces beer, preferably a medium-amber ale or 12 ounces dark beer, room temperature (See comments)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degF.
2. Spray a 9"x5"x3" loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
3. Sift all dry ingredients into a bowl.
4. Add the beer all at once, and mix by hand until just combined.
5. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
6. Good Luck!
7. This stuff can be real gooey; smooth it out as best you can, and slam the pan down on the counter two or three times to smooth out the batter.
8. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. The recipe also says that the top should be light golden, but do not count on this.
10. After cooking, this bread may still look kind of anemic, real pale, kinda raw!
11. Especially if you are using a light colored beer!
12. BUT, if the toothpick says it's done, it's really done!
13. Turn out onto a rack to cool.
14. Eat it as soon as it is cool enough to touch, or let it cool to room temperature and wrap to eat a little later, or wrap real good and freeze for up to a month.
15. If refrigerated or frozen, bring to room temperature or warm before serving.
16. It's great fresh from the oven, and it makes wonderful toast.

17. Notes& Comments:

18. *This recipe makes an extremely dense, heavy bread with a crunchy crust.
19. It's great!
20. I like it as is!
21. But, as noted above, it does look a little anemic.
22. *You might want to replace up to half of the white flour with whole-wheat flour to darken the loaf.
23. Also, a darker beer will make a darker loaf.
24. Works great with Guinness!
25. *You might also want to experiment with other beers, for different flavors and different degrees of richness.
26. Obviously, the only ingredient in this recipe that will change the overall flavor is the beer.
27. Enjoy!
28. *We have also doubled the recipe, using 1 bottle of Guinness and 1 bottle of Bass, with 4 cups unbleached flour and 2 cup whole wheat flour; obviously this makes 2 loaves.

Reviews

[EllenS]

I have been making this bread for years, but my recipe calls for self rising flour (1 pound bag). So happy to have one that I can make with shelf ingredients, thank you so much.

 

[wegan]

I have made it twice now and it turned out great both times. Very simple and delicious.

 

[Pierre Dance]

Fantastic! Quick, easy, and delicious! Don't let the 28 steps throw you. Only the first 8 are needed to make the bread, the rest are there to guide you in making the right choices of ingredients. I used 2 cups unbleached white and 1 cup whole wheat flour. The beer I chose was a Nut Brown Ale from my favorite watering hole, Ice Harbor Brewing Company. The 55 minutes was right on the mark. The recipe begs for experimentation. Think of the possibilities, Beer Batter Rye, Beer Batter Oat, Beer Batter Cornbread, not to mention the exotic flours. I think I'm slipping into mad chef mode. Thanx for posting this great recipe. Pierre