Pumpkin Beer Bread

It is officially fall here in Flagstaff! The temperature has been up and down with a brisk chill. School's back in session. The leaves are changing color. We have even gone back to having multiple blankets on the bed to keep warm during the wee hours of the morning. This time of year  is filled with all kinds of pumpkin treats, including pumpkin beer.

When I was in California, my parents had this beer and it got my gears turning. After seeing more recipes from fellow food bloggers, I figured it was my turn. One thing I have noticed with the other recipes is that they are more of a pumpkin bread with pumpkin puree, spices, and even nuts. I wasn't looking for the pumpkin alternative to banana or zucchini bread. Mine is just an adaptation of the beer bread I made earlier in the year. 

Pumpkin Beer Bread
ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 c whole wheat flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 12oz bottle pumpkin ale (I used Buffalo Bill Brewery's Pumpkin Ale)
• 3 tablespoons butter

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Sift well with fork. 
3. Pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed, but don’t over mix (best to just use your hands). Scrape dough into prepared loaf pan.
4. Melt butter and drizzle across top of dough. I added cracked pepper and salt to the top as well.
5. Bake for about 40 or so minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.Bake time will vary with beer type.

review: AMAZING! It was exactly what I wanted! If you look at the recipe above, there were only two changes. The beer and the sugar. I used half regular sugar and half brown sugar. As mentioned previously, I did not want a pumpkin bread and so I stuck with nearly the same recipe. The brown sugar added a depth to the sweetness. I think next time I will use all brown sugar. Overall, both the beer and pumpkin flavors are subtle.