Easy Appetizer: No-Knead Beer Bread with Cheesy Dip

If you need an appetizer that is super simple but looks like a million bucks, look no further than homemade bread and dip. Contrary to popular belief, even beginner cooks have the skills to bake bread from scratch and most recipes use basic ingredients. In particular, this beer bread offers savory rustic flavors that pair well with the creamy cheese dip. Your guests will be raving about this appetizer and only you will know how easy it was.  

 Easy Appetizer: No-Knead Beer Bread with Cheesy Dip

No Knead Beer Bread Recipe

Image Via: HalfBaked Harvest.com

Prep Time: 14 hours

Active Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 1 hour

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

For Bread:

1 ½ cups rye flour (Note: If you don’t have rye flour, just add this amount to the all-purpose flour.)

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon instant yeast

1 heaping teaspoon salt

12 ounces dark beer

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

For Dip:

8 ounces cheddar cheese

4 ounces pepper jack cheese

4 ounces cream cheese

2 cups sweet onions, divided

½ cup mayonnaise

½ teaspoon dried thyme

Home-made bread and a cheesy dip; what a great combination

Image Via: Smells-like-home

Preparation:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flours, yeast, and salt. Pour the beer and honey over the dry ingredients.
2. Mix everything together until a sticky dough forms and  begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
3. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm, dry place. Allow it to rest for at least 8 hours.
4. After the dough has rested and doubled in size, transfer it onto a floured countertop. Flour the top of the dough as well.
5. Fold the dough over itself until it forms into a round ball.
6. Transfer the dough ball into an oiled glass bowl. Cover the bowl with a dry towel and allow the dough to proof for another 90 minutes.
7. With 30 minutes left, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the skillet in the oven so that it has a chance to preheat too.
8.  When the oven preheats, move the dough into the skillet. Use a knife to puncture a few small steam holes into the top of the bread. Then, sprinkle caraway seeds across the top.
9. Bake the dough for 25-30 minutes or until the top becomes crusty and golden brown.
10. As the dough bakes, assemble the dip by chopping the onions, shredding the hard cheeses, and cubing the cream cheese.
11. In a food processer, combine the cheeses, mayo, thyme, and half the onions. Pulse until everything is well blended and smooth. Then, stir in the remaining onions and transfer the dip to a bake-safe dish.
12. Once the bread is ready to cool, drop the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
13. Bake the dip for 20-25 minutes or until the cheeses are bubbly and the top is slightly browned.
14. Serve the dip warm with cubed pieces of bread for dipping.

Though fresh bread may take a bit to be ready for the oven, the taste is well worth the investment of time. Best of all, once you get a handle on this recipe, the ingredients can be easily swapped for whatever you have on hand. If it’s around the holidays use a pumpkin beer and add in a pinch of cinnamon and allspice. Pair with a cream cheese dip If you have bananas to use up, opt for a citrusy beer and mix them into the batter. Serve with melted chocolate. Whatever combination you choose, this easy appetizer is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone around.

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