Dori’s Hard Cider Bread

Thanks for sharing!

Homemade hard cider bread is so easy to make and a perfect accompaniment to stew, soup, chili and more.  You can use this recipe with your favorite beer for homemade beer bread, or use hard cider like we do. It is wonderful on its own or with a bit of butter.

Beer bread is such a delicious quick and easy way to make bread.  It only takes a few ingredients and you likely have them in you pantry already.

You can even mix the dry ingredients ahead of time and store them in a jar or plastic bag in the pantry. Then all you have to do is add the hard cider or beer and bake the bread when you are ready.

A jar of mix with a cute tag describing baking instructions makes a fun gift as well. Making your own like this is so much more economical than buying a similar mix in a gourmet kitchen store.

The bread batter only takes a minute or two to put together. Then it bakes to golden perfection.

The inside is soft and delicious. The crust has a slight crunch and the butter makes the top extra flavorful.

We love serving it with a bowl of soup. This most recent loaf was enjoyed with a bowl of slow cooker pulled pork chili.

Of course a slice with some butter (and possibly honey) is fabulous on its own as well.  Whip some up at a moment’s notice.

Our History With This Recipe

This is one of the original recipes that was sent it when I put out a request for recipes from family and friends way back before this website was even an idea.  Who would have guessed that a quick email like that would have resulted in a blog that is still going strong all these years later?!

It has been a wild ride to say the least.  A lot of those early recipes that are the real reason why this blog is here are in need of some updating.

I hope to work my way back through them as time allows.  When I made the apple pumpkin chili, I knew this beer bread with a hard cider twist would be a perfect side and I was right!

My husband’s Aunt Dori said that hard cider bread is a favorite of guests at her house.  I have had beer bread before, always made with a lager.

In fact, I usually made from whatever beer our friends brought over and left behind.  You know, the ones you won’t drink but you could make bread out of!

But Dori had a few suggestions, and none of them were that.  She said that dark crafty beers were really good.

I had always wondered about that, but had been afraid to try it.  She also said that their nieces went crazy over a loaf made with hard cider.

Hard cider?!  In beer bread?!  

Now you have my attention.  I have to try that!

So, I put that theory to the test and made a loaf to go with our pulled pork chili for dinner.  You know what?  It is really good!

Beer bread is a little sweet anyway, so the apple really goes well in the recipe.  We also paired some hard cider bread with some spicy black bean soup and the sweet was a really nice balance to the heat.

If you aren’t in the mood for bread, homemade cheese crackers would be a great option with your bowl of soup as well. Or make some chili cheese spritz crackers for another fun option.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Gifting Beer Bread Mix

For a fun gift, mix together the dry ingredients and put in a quart jar. Add a tag that includes the baking directions.

If you want, you can even include a can or bottle of beer as well. Then all the recipient has to do is pour it in, stir it up and bake it.

Or whip up a few sets of the mix for yourself and store them in the pantry. Then you can bake a loaf of beer bread with no measuring required!

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Thanks for sharing!