A hefty loaf of savory beer bread with a flavor boost from sharp cheddar and onion. Easy to make ahead, and great for dunking in soups and stews. A crowd-pleaser for sure.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow or sweet onion
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 12-oz bottle beer or light beer
- 4 teaspoons butter melted
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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a loaf pan (9x5 inchese) with spray oil.
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In a small pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and ground black pepper and saute for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
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While the onions are cooking, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Pour in the beer, and stir just until all the dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in the cheese and the onion mixture. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of the melted butter over the top.
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Bake for 35 minutes. Drizzle the remaining 2 teaspoons of butter over the top, then return to oven and bake for 10-15 minutes more. The bread is done when the crust is a golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Let rest in the pan on a cooling rack for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cutting board. Store leftovers in sealed container for 3-4 days.
I've used both regular and light beer, and both have worked well. The beer does add a mild flavor to the bread, so keep that in mind when choosing your beer.
Gluten Free Notes: I have not attempted to make this recipe gluten free. However I've used gluten-free all-purpose flour as a substitute for regular all-purpose flour in several of my baked good recipes, and the result is always super. As for substituting the beer for a gluten-free version, I would think the principle chemical reactions would be similar, resulting in a similar loaf. If you try it, do let me know!