Beer Bread Bowls are an amazing vehicle to serve the most comforting foods in from homemade soups to dips for entertaining and sharing foods with friends.
I discovered about five years ago that baking bread from scratch is a huge outlet to manage my stress and anxiety. It was an accidental discovery. I happened to be at a local farmer’s market where someone was selling homemade bread and I was overcome with a desire to make my own. No joke. I went to the grocery and bought about 14.765 bags of flour and loaded up my cart with yeast packets. I came home and went to town. I kneaded, and experimented, and stuffed loaves of bread with gorgonzola, jalapeno peppers, cheddar, rosemary, roasted garlic – you name it, I stuffed with it. The list goes on and on.
I’m not sure what about baking bread is so magical. Maybe it’s the very basic physical process of using my hands to knead dough for a while and then taking a break and walking away. Maybe it’s being able to do something more physical by punching down the dough. Then apologizing to my poor abused dough by massaging it some more and forming it into not so perfect circular balls to rise up again and be baked into some kind of bread.
Now it’s one of my happy places. When life gets too complicated, I escape by baking bread. That physical activity, yet mind numbing work helps me check out, if only for a short time, to forget about what is wrong with the world, or my life – even just for a little while.
We’ve had some troubles here lately with what I can really only describe as an ongoing family tragedy. I’m going to just keep hanging in there and baking bread while hoping for the best.
Beer Bread Bowls
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup warm stout beer
- 2 packets yeast
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 6 - 7 cups flour
Instructions
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Stir together beer and yeast until combined, set aside for 10 - 15 minutes
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Heat milk, butter, and sugar until warm, set aside until cooled slightly
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Transfer milk mixture to a large bowl, add beer and yeast mixture, then stir to combine
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Add flour one cup at a time and stir to combine until it's too stiff to stir then turn out onto a well floured clean surface
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Knead and add flour one cup at a time until dough is smooth and elastic and flour is incorporated
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Transfer to an well oiled or buttered bowl, cover with a clean linen towel, and let rise in a warm place for 60 - 90 minutes or until doubled in size
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Punch dough down
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Turn out onto a clean, well floured surface and knead another 5 - 7 minutes
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Divide evenly and form into balls the shape of bread bowls the size you want
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Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet cover with a clean linen towel, and let rise in a warm place for another 30 minutes or until doubled in size
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Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until golden brown
NOTES:
- I used a Black Mocha Stout from Highland Brewing in Asheville, NC
- The size you form your beer bread bowls will determine how long they need to bake
- I cut my dough in half, then cut each of those in half, and cut each of those in half, and ended up with 8 bread bowls
I hope things get better very soon, Rachelle. Hugs to you! I totally feel you on bread making… there is definitely something very therapeutic about it. These beer bread bowls look and sound fantastic!
I totally know what you mean….there’s something so relaxing about baking bread, nothing like it! Looks like you’ve got a good one here 🙂 Hope things get better soon, Rachelle.XO
I totally hear you! Nothing is quite as calming as baking. And this is the ultimate in comforting. I love eating chili in a bread bowl when the cold rain is coming down outside.
These are amazing to use for chili! We will definitely refer to your recipe and blog in the coming weeks when we post our favorite beer chili recipe. Hope that your hard times eventually lead to peace and inner comfort! Stay strong, there is always something to be grateful for.
I’ve got a love-hate relationship with bread Rachelle. I get so frustrated when it doesn’t turn out but then I’m over the moon when it does and can’t wait to make my next loaf! Tom and I love soup in bread bowls. Hope all gets better soon for you.
I’m sorry to hear about the family troubles lately, Rachelle. Hang in there! But I must second your opinion on bread baking. It totally relaxes me, too. In fact, it’s hands-down my favorite thing to do in the kitchen! Love the stout in this bread…I need to try that sometime.
Sorry to hear about your family tragedy. I hope things get better very soon, Rachelle. Baking a bread is indeed stress bursting. The word baking itself relaxes me. Love how beautiful and delicious these beer bread bowls looks.
I love baking bread and it’s a such a great stress reliever. Next time I bake, I’m putting beer in my dough. I think I’ll do it for my pizza dough too! Freaking yummy! Hoping your family issues get better very soon girl. Love ya! 🙂
CARB O LICIOUS. I love the flavor that beer imparts on bread. This is just the best use of beer bread ever, I think.
Baking bread is DEFINITELY therapeutic for me too, Rach. I’m not sure what it is about the whole process, but it has a calming effect on me, and that’s saying a lot since I’m generally pretty high strung. 😉 These beer bread bowls look fabulous!! There is nothing better than beer bread, but turn it into a bowl?! YATZI! I hope you have been baking up a storm, my dear. <3 I've been thinking about you and sending all the positive energy humanly possible your way. I love ya!!!! Pinned! xoxoxo
Baking bread is DEFINITELY therapeutic for me too, Rach. I’m not sure what it is about the whole process, but it has a calming effect on me, and that’s saying a lot since I’m generally pretty high strung. 😉 These beer bread bowls look fabulous!! There is nothing better than beer bread, but turn it into a bowl?! YATZI! I hope you have been baking up a storm, my dear. <3 I've been thinking about you and sending all the positive energy humanly possible your way. I love ya!!!! Pinned! xoxoxo
Hey friend, I’m sorry to hear that things are difficult for your family right now…sending all my love and hoping that things get better, immediately! This bread sounds perfect! xoxo
Oh I am hopeful that you will feel better soon. I love that you find peace and grace in making bread. Shoot, that inspires me to make a loaf or two. Hang in there.
These would make a great bowl for beef stew! With a pint on the side, of course.
Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that things are difficult right now. Sending you lots of love. This bread looks perfect with a comforting bowl of soup or stew. *hugs*
What a fun twist on a standard bread bowl. YUM!! Sending love to you and your family.