In preparation for this last weekend's cold, wet and wild weather, my husband made a big pot of his awesome chili and I decided to whip up some hearty beer bread to go with it. Traditionally, I use a lager or an amber ale, but this time I decided to try something different: a hard apple cider.

I honestly had no idea how it would turn out - if you would be able to taste the apple, if the bread would bake the same way, if the bottle of cider would actually make it into the recipe...

Turns out, it's pretty delicious!  You can't REALLY taste the apple (at least I couldn't have picked that flavor out if I hadn't known) but it has a slightly moister, denser consistency and an underlying sweetness that was a nice counterpoint to the spicy chili.

Below is the recipe and you should absolutely try it.  It's such a simple and quick process - and who doesn't love a house that smells like baking bread?!

Hard Apple Cider Bread
Ingredients

3 c. Flour, sifted
1/4 c. White Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
3 tsp. Baking Powder
12 oz. Hard Apple Cider (I used Woodchuck, but any will do)
1/4 c. Melted Butter

Let's Do This

- Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
- Mix together dry ingredients and cider
- Empty mixture into a well greased loaf pan
- Cover with melted butter (just trust me on this.)
- Bake for 1 hour, or until top is brown and crusty and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean
- Allow to cool for 20 minutes