Sam Adams Apple-Cheddar Quick Bread

I have never enjoyed an ice cold beer.  Oh, I've tried one, I just didn't enjoy it.  A chilled caramel-colored lager in a frosty mug looks harmless enough, but for me, that's where the appeal ends.  Both the distinct scent and the flavor of beer can be found on my "things that I can do without" list, something that my college and grad school friends had a hard time understanding ("What do you mean you don't like beer?") 

Some true microbrew connoisseurs have insisted that I obviously hadn't tried the right brands, because there had to be at least one beer on the market suitable for my taste.  So, I obliged and took small sips of wheat beer (yuck), stout (double yuck), flavored ale, and even those hard cider versions, which I was told are supposed to appeal to naysayers like me.  They didn't--none of them did.  So, the ale aficionados failed in their quest to find me a signature brew, but on the upside, they realized that they always had a designated driver when I accompanied them to the pub.

Despite that fact that I will never be able to tell the difference between a Stella Artois and a Shiner Bock, I have finally found one kind of beer that I enjoy: the kind that is used as an ingredient in a recipe.  Whether it's a deeply flavored Irish Stout for my St. Patty's Day Guinness Cake or a lager for this apple-cheddar quick bread, baking or cooking the beer seems to emphasize its yeasty or caramel flavors while masking its not-so-attractive attributes.  This is a dense, slightly spicy bread, which is perfect for serving with soups, stews, or any entree with a sauce that might need to be mopped up.  The lager and the shredded apple help to keep the bread moist, and the sharp cheddar and seasonings add great tangy flavor.  Enjoy it with a cold one--or not.  Here are my extra tips for this lager-lover's bread:

• If you don't have Sam Adams, any similar lager-style beer would be a fine substitute.  You could also use a hard cider, which would pair nicely with the cheddar and apples in this recipe.
• This recipe is very versatile, so feel free to be creative.  For example, for a Mexican twist, replace the cheddar cheese with Monterey Jack, replace the apple with a minced jalapeno pepper, and use chili powder or cumin for seasoning.  You can also replace the lager with a Mexican beer.
• Store the baked loaf at room temperature, tightly wrapped, for up to two days.  If you have some leftover bread, cut it into cubes and toast them in the oven for a unique take on croutons.
• The cayenne pepper may be omitted (or increased!), depending on how much heat you like in your food. 

Sam Adams Apple-Cheddar Quick Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

1 small Granny Smith apple, peeled

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped shallots

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 cups flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 1/4 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese

1 (12-ounce) bottle Sam Adams lager, or a similar lager-style beer

2 tablespoons melted butter

Preheat the oven to 375F degrees.  Shred the apple, discarding the core.  Squeeze the excess juice from the shredded apple so that it is barely moist. 

Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.  Add the shallots and shredded apple to the pan and cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently.  Stir in the pepper and garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, thyme, and cayenne.  Make a well in the center of the flour and add the shallot mixture, cheese, and lager to the bowl, stirring until just combined.

Transfer the batter to a 9X5-inch loaf pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.  Drizzle the melted butter over the loaf and bake for 50-55 minutes, until the loaf is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.  Cool the loaf in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Comments

[Lisa]

Great recipe. I would much rather "eat" my beer than drink it also:)

[foody at heart]

I actually made this bread. I am not a baker and any baking intimidates me, but this bread was very easy to make and it turned out great. I had with a German inspired Christmas dinner and it was a big hit. I used Blue Moon and turned out just right. Thanks for giving me confidence to make other "baking" recipes.

[Karen]

I don't really care to drink beer, either, but one of my favorite recipes is my Gingerbread with Guiness... mmm, good!

[foodphotoblog.com]

Something about baked apples and cheddar kind of a "perfect storm" food combination.

[Kevin]

Beer, apples and cheese! This bread sounds great!

[sharon]

I LOVE beer. I've always been a beer gal and it definitely surprises people. I'm not sure why! Almost as much as I love drinking beer, I love eating beer breads. This one looks fantastic!

[Andrea]

I can totally understand not liking bear (although for some reason I have always loved the smell), but I'm glad you found a way to enjoy it! I honestly don't love wine, except in cooking. A strange breed, we are!!

[Barbara]

I myself don't like to drink beer, but I also like it in cooking especially breads.

[patsyk]

This bread looks so good! We always have a variety of beer hanging around after my husband hosts poker games... so, I may have to try this one soon!

[Tina]

What a recipe! Sounds awesome!

[Julie Hession]

Thanks, Mary!

You're absolutely right. I didn't even think of that option--what a great idea. You would still achieve a similar flavor using the non-alcohoic version.

[Mary]

Julie, I really like the way this recipe reads. I'm going to try it. Folks who do not use alcohol mite like to try this using O'Doules Amber Ale - a non-alcoholic beer.

[lisaiscooking]

This looks so delicious! I'd love to have some with a hot bowl of vegetable soup.

[Blond Duck]

Oh yum. I can't decide if I like this or the flank steak more....