Link to article
bacon cheddar beer bread

Course: Side Dish | Beer Style: Amber Ale

Bacon Cheddar Beer Bread

Equal parts salty and sweet, this crowd-pleasing bacon cheddar beer bread works for every meal. Serve it alongside hearty stews or offer it as a savory alternative to traditional brunch dishes.

Share Post

Prep Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 8 slices bacon, crumbled
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 12-ounce can of beer at room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter

Directions

  1. Set out the beer so it warms to room temperature.
  2. Fry the bacon and set it aside on a plate to cool.
  3. Preheat oven to 375°.
  4. Grease a 9" x 5" x 2½” loaf pan with butter and set aside.
  5. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, mixing well.
  6. Add shredded cheddar cheese and honey to the dry ingredients.
  7. Crumble bacon and add it to the ingredients already in the bowl. Mix well.
  8. Add the beer to the bowl, stirring frequently to distribute the liquid. (The batter will be thick and sticky.)
  9. Add batter to the prepared bread pan, smoothing the top so it’s flat.
  10. Slice cold butter into pats roughly ¼ inch thick and place them on top of the batter.
  11. Bake at 375° for 35-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Begin checking at 35 minutes. If the top is golden, but the center isn’t fully done, cover with foil and continue baking.)
  12. This bread has a tendency to swell quickly, so stick with the recommended 9" x 5" x 2½” pan or larger.
  13. If you must use a smaller pan, place an empty cookie sheet on the rack under the bread pan to catch melting butter if it drips.
  14. Let bread stand on counter for 10 minutes to allow the melted butter to redistribute itself throughout the bread.
  15. Remove the bread from the pan and cool fully on a cooling rack.
  16. Slice and serve plain or with butter and honey.
  17.  

Alicia Underlee Nelson is a freelance writer and photographer who covers craft beer, travel, art, entertainment, history and breaking news for Thomson Reuters, Food Network, USA Today, Delta Sky Magazine, AAA Living Magazine, Midwest Living, Beer Advocate, trivago, Matador Network and numerous other publications. Her first book, titled “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History,” was published in 2017. Follow her adventures across the American Midwest, prairie provinces of Canada and beyond at prairiestylefile.com. You can also find her (and photos of what she’s drinking) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


Suggested Recipes