Amazingly spiced beer bread baked in a pan for easy slice and serving!
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a metal 9x9x2 pan with baking spray, set aside. (Only have a 8x8x2? That'll work! Just note that the bread will be thicker/taller and take a few more minutes to bake!)
In a large mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, salt, herb and seasoning (but NOT the bagel seasoning!). Use a fork to whisk it together. Add all 12 ounces of beer...it may be tempting to take a sip but don't! I find that the batter requires a full 12 ounces! Continue using the fork to combine the beer into the flour mix. It will create a very thick and heavy batter.
Plop the batter into the prepared pan and help push it into all 4 corners. Top the dough evenly with the Bagel Spice. Cut up 1-4 Tablespoons of butter into a small dice and scatter over the top of the dough. (Some people like to add a whole bunch of butter on top but I find that unneccesary! I like just a few tablespoons to encourage some browning on top)
Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes. The beer bread is done when it has risen a bit and an inserted toothpick comes out clean! Place the pan on a rack and cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and finish cooling on the rack.
I find that this beer bread is best served on the day of. I love serving it with some chili or stew!
Note 1: Self-rising flour can be easily purchased in stores or you can make your own!For each cup of all purpose flour stir in 1.5 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon table salt. For this recipe since we need 3 cups flour, you’ll stir in 4.5 teaspoons baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt.
Note 2: The sugar does not make it sweet. It works with the baking powder and beer to help the bread rise. I also find that a bit of sugar helps enhance all the other flavors within the bread!
Note 3: I used Pacifico beer for this recipe whenever I tested it. I like using a lighter flavored beer since I am not the biggest fan of heavy beer flavors. With Pacifico, you still get the beer taste but it isn't heavy-handed. Feel free to use whatever flavor beer (as long as its 12 ounces) you like!
Note 4: Some recipes call for like 1/2 a cup of butter placed on top and honestly I really, really dislike what it does to beer bread. It is way too much butter and I am just not a fan! I use a just a bit of butter to encourage some browning on top. I also find that the crust is a bit thicker and denser without all that extra butter and I love it that way.