Name: Apple Cheddar Beer Bread, Grilled
Prep time: 6 h 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 7 h 15 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 120 grams 100% hydration sourdough starter; 60 grams bread flour; 45 ml white beer; 235 grams bread flour; 105 ml white beer; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 cup chopped green apple; 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

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With this Apple Cheddar Beer Bread, the tang of the sourdough and the tang of the beer played off each other magnificently here, plus the juicy sweet tartness of the apple bits, with a bit of body from the cheddar. This bread is pretty much awesome.

loaf and three slices of sourdough bread with apples and cheddar cheese

This bread was an experiment from the start. It all started because I wanted to figure out a way to bake bread on the grill, without needing to excessively heat up my house every time I wanted fresh bread. Then I saw that this month was Bread Baking Day #51 – Bread with Beer for the 5th Anniversary!

This month has been kind of busy, what with birthdays and visits and everything going on, I was going to pass this challenge by. But then someone left a stray can of Coors Light ended up in my fridge and I decided that maybe I should participate after all. I don’t drink Coors Light. I do drink an occasional beer, but I have been a sophisticated beer snob from the start, haha, and I knew I was not going to be drinking this.

loaf of bread with apples and cheddar cheese sliced on cutting board

I also had a plethora of apple slices left over from Ladybug’s birthday party (remind me to show you those pictures, ok?) and needed a way to use them up. Since I was throwing apples and beer into the bread, the logical choice was to throw some cheddar cheese in there, too.

cast iron skillet with parchment paper and baked boule

Table of Contents hide

1) How to bake bread on the grill

2) Apple Cheddar Beer Bread, Grilled

How to bake bread on the grill

My Dad helped me to bake this loaf, since I haven’t done much with using my dutch ovens and charcoal together. We decided to put the charcoal and dutch oven (affiliate link) inside the grill since there was a toddler and two puppies running around outside with us. Once the charcoal was no longer on fire, we placed the empty dutch oven (affiliate link) in the grill, put the lid on, placed some briquettes on top and allowed the dutch oven (affiliate link) to heat up some, too. When everything was nice and hot we quickly placed the bread (on parchment paper) inside the dutch oven (affiliate link), put the lid back, and did some rearranging of charcoal. About 20 minutes later we could really smell it (it smelled amaaaaaazing), and checked it a few times before deciding it was probably done. It probably could have used another minute or two but the bread was perfectly done, it was only a cosmetic darkening of the crust that it lacked.

close up image of two slices of apple cheddar beer bread

Whatever it might have lacked cosmetically, however, was totally made up for in the first bite of this bread. This bread didn’t stand a chance. It was barely allowed to cool (45 minutes is close enough to an hour, right?) and did not, I repeat, DID NOT last through the night. If it is possible for bread to be light and refreshing, this bread was. The tang of the sourdough and the tang of the beer played off each other magnificently here, plus the juicy sweet tartness of the apple bits, with a bit of body from the cheddar. This bread was pretty much awesome. We looooved it, and I will probably have to go buy some beer specifically to use to bake this bread again! I hope you make it and let me know what you think of it!

If you are looking for other apple bread recipes, definitely check out Apple and Honey Challah.

sourdough bread in cast iron skillet with parchment paper

This bread was submitted to Yeastspotting, a weekly showcase of all things yeasted!

Food tastes better when its shared! If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and rate below!

graphic for sourdough course - reads "new to sourdough? learn the skills to impress your family and friends with your sourdough baking. Click here".

Yield: 12 Servings

Apple Cheddar Beer Bread, Grilled

The tang of the sourdough and the tang of the beer played off each other magnificently here, plus the juicy sweet tartness of the apple bits, with a bit of body from the cheddar. This bread was pretty much awesome.

Prep Time 6 hours 30 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the sponge:

120 grams 100% hydration sourdough starter
60 grams bread flour
45 ml white beer

For the final dough:

235 grams bread flour
105 ml white beer
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped green apple
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

In a medium bowl, mix together the ingredients for the sponge (starter, flour, and beer) and let it sit at room temperature for at least 4 hours to over night.
The next morning, place the sponge and remaining flour and beer into a large bowl and mix until just barely combined.
Allow to sit for 20 minutes undisturbed.
Add in the salt, apple chunks and cheese and gentle knead to mix all the ingredients in.
Let the dough rise for 40 and knead again very briefly.
Let the dough rise for 40 minutes and knead again very briefly.
Shape the dough into a ball and place it (with seam side up) into a well floured banneton type container.
Let the dough rise until almost doubled, about 1.5 hours.

Indoor cooking:

Preheat your oven to 450F with a baking stone inside.
Score the bread and quickly place on the baking stone and cover.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the cover, reduce the oven temperature to 425 and bake for 10 or 15 minutes more until golden brown.
Cool at least 1 hour before slicing.

Outdoor cooking:

Light a bunch of charcoals.
When the fire has gone out of the charcoals, but they are still heating up, spread the charcoals around so you can place a dutch oven (with legs) on top of some, and place some charcoals on top of the lid. This will heat up your dutch oven, too.
Place your dough on a piece of parchment paper and score the stop.
Carefully lift off the lid to the dutch oven, place the parchment paper/bread inside and place the lid back on.
Ensure that there are 19 briquettes on top and 13 on the bottom. This will help the temperature to be 425F.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until you start to smell it, and then keep checking until it is as golden as you want it to be. I baked mine about 25 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 127Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

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Jonathan Bardwell

Monday 21st of September 2015

Mine came out dense and flat, but I am determined to try again next weekend with a few tweaks! Very tasty!!

Amy (Savory Moments)

Wednesday 4th of July 2012

What a lovely loaf of bread with a great combination of flavors. It sounds very creative and very yummy.

zorra

Monday 2nd of July 2012

Wow, looks awesome. I can see why it did not "survive" the night! Thank you for joining BBD.

katherine Martinelli

Saturday 30th of June 2012

This looks really incredible!! I love that you put apples in the bread along with the beer!

MyKitchenInHalfCups

Friday 29th of June 2012

Whatever it might have lacked cosmetically ... are you kidding!This is a gorgeous loaf!Cheese just does make it better. Beautiful crumb.

jennifer

Aw, thanks! :)