Eating In: Spiced Pumpkin Beer Bread
Making bread at home can be daunting, even for the experienced home cook. Kneading and rising take time and muscle (or an expensive standing mixer), and the science of yeast can seem puzzling, to say the least. If this all seems like too much work, fear not. Delicious, homemade bread is within easy reach, thanks to one of the greatest baking discoveries of our time: beer bread.
The magical properties of beer (namely, yeast) make it a great stand-in for dry yeast and allow the baker to skip the entire kneading and rising process. Beer also adds flavor; and with so many different ales, stouts, lagers, and lambics on the market, the creative opportunities abound. As the weather turns cooler, now is a fabulous time to transform some seasonal brews into a warm, toasty loaf of bread. We chose Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, a dark, caramel-y beer with a spicy, pumpkin finish. Paired with nuts and dried fruit, it produces a sweet, chewy loaf that tastes delicious plain or toasted and slathered with butter.
Adapted from Twin Tables' Pumpkin Ale Bread Recipe.
Shopping List:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 12 oz bottle of Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (available at Whole Foods and De vinos, or other pumpkin beer of your choice
Recipe:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9"x5" loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, making sure to break up any brown sugar lumps. Stir in nuts and raisins.
3. Make a well in the center of the bowl and pour 1/3 to 1/2 of the beer into the center. The beer will foam vigorously. Carefully fold some of the dry ingredients into the center, until enough foam subsides that you can safely pour in the rest of the beer. Gently fold the remaining beer into the dough until it is just absorbed. Be careful not to over mix or stir vigorously, as this will destroy the bubbles and make the bread dense.
4. Pour dough into loaf pan and smooth the top with a spoon or rubber spatula. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.