Sara Moultons Beer Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, make a well in the center and pour all of the buttermilk in at once. Using 1 hand, stir in a full circle starting in the center of the bowl working towards the outside of the bowl until all the flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, a matter of seconds, turn it out onto a well-floured board. WASH AND DRY YOUR HANDS. Roll dough around gently with floured hands for a second, just enough to tidy it up, flip the dough over. Pat the dough into a round about 1 1/2-inches deep. Sprinkle a little flour onto the center of a baking sheet and place the loaf on top of the flour. Cut a deep cross on it with a sharp knife, prick the four sections to let the fairies out. Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure of this.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until just cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread: if it is cooked it will sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the stick of butter in an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish and place it in the preheating oven just until the butter melts.
• Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and remove six tablespoons of the melted butter. Set aside.
• Swirl the pan to distribute the remaining two tablespoons of butter.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, dry mustard, and smoked paprika. Sprinkle in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and whisk until blended.
• Pour the beer over the flour mixture and stir until just blended. The dough will be wet, loose, and sticky.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the top.
• Pour the dough into the buttered 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
• Pour the six tablespoons of melted butter over the top.
• Bake for about 25 minutes until the middle is set and the top begins to turn golden brown.