Old World Beer Bread Recipes

OLD-WORLD DARK BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. In a saucepan, heat 2-1/2 cups water, molasses, butter, vinegar and chocolate to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half; shape each portion into a ball. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 375° for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. , In a small saucepan, combine the cornstarch and remaining water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Brush over bread.

BEER BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix dry ingredients and beer.
• Pour into a greased loaf pan.
• Pour melted butter over mixture.
• Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes.
• UPDATED NOTES: This recipe makes a very hearty bread with a crunchy, buttery crust. If you prefer a softer crust (like a traditional bread) mix the butter into the batter instead of pouring it over the top.
• Sifting flour for bread recipes is a must-do. Most people just scoop the 1 cup measure in the flour canister and level it off. That compacts the flour and will turn your bread into a "hard biscuit" as some have described. That's because they aren't sifting their flour! If you do not have a sifter, use a spoon to spoon the flour into the 1 cup measure. Try it once the "correct" way and you will see an amazing difference in the end product.
• I have had many email from you kind folks about using non-alcoholic beverages instead of beer. That is fine to do but I highly recommend adding a packet of Dry Active Yeast or 2 teaspoons of Bread (Machine) Yeast so that you get a proper rise.
• The final result should be a thick, hearty and very tasteful bread, NOT A BRICK! ;).
• Thank you all for the incredibly nice comments and those of you who left a bad review - learn to sift sift SIFT! You will be amazed at the results you get.

OLD-FASHIONED BEER BREAD

Steps:

• Heat milk in microwave until just warmed (about 35 seconds)Dissolve 1 tsp sugar into warm milk.
• Sprinkle yeast over milk mixture and let sit for 10 minutes or until mixture is foamy.
• Heat beer, 2 tbsp sugar, butter, and salt together in a saucepan until butter is just melted.
• Remove from heat and let cool until lukewarm (if it's too hot it will kill the yeast).
• Beat in yeast mixture with a fork.
• Place 4 cups flour into a bowl. Make a well in the center and add the beer mixture and then the yeast mixture.
• Stir with a wooden spoon; mix dough with hands when spoon requires too much effort.
• Place 1/4 cup flour onto work space and turn dough out onto the flour.
• Knead for 10 minutes, adding as much of the remaining flour as the dough will take. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Lightly grease a large bowl. Place dough in bowl and roll it around until well coated.
• Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for two hours or until dough has doubled in size.
• Punch down dough in the bowl.
• Roll back into a ball and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Divide ball in half and knead each half into a ball.
• Using a rolling pin, gently roll each ball into an 8x11 inch rectangle.
• Starting at the narrow end, roll each rectangle up tightly.
• Pinch the ends and the seams together and place the loaves seam side down into greased loaf pans.
• Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Mix egg yolk and water together.
• Brush the tops of the loaves lightly with egg wash and then slash the tops of the loaves with a large knife (the sharper the better).
• Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden.
• Loaves should make a hollow sound when tapped.

OLD-WORLD RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Beat in the molasses, butter, rye flour, cocoa, caraway seeds, salt and 2 cups all-purpose flour until smooth. Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form a stiff dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape each piece into a loaf about 10 in. long. Grease 2 baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place loaves on prepared pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

OLD WORLD BEER BREAD

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients first and then the beer.
• Pour into a loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until knife comes out clean.