Swiss Cheese Beer Bread

Several years ago, my sister gave me this recipe.  I made it.  I loved it.  I might have even eaten half of it standing at the oven as soon as it was cool enough to touch.  However, I have not made it since then.  Four-ish years is soooo way too long to go without this bread.  This bread is moist and flavorful with a delicious excess of ridiculously desirable melted cheese pockets (some of which are golden and toasty).  Are you hungry yet?

Swiss Cheese Beer Bread

12 ounces beer
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons butter
8 ounces processed Swiss cheese
5 cups all purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
8 ounces Swiss cheese, cut into 1/4 inch cubes

In a large saucepan, combine the beer, water, sugar, salt, butter, and processed Swiss cheese.  Heat until just steaming and the cheese is partially melted.  Let cool until just warm.

In a large mixing bowl, stand mixer, combine 2 cups of flour, and the yeast.  Add the beer mixture and beat until combined.  Add the rest of the flour, a 1/2 cup at a time until the dough comes together and is not sticky.

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and spread the Swiss cheese cubes over it.  Knead in the cheese until the dough becomes smooth.  Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

Grease 2 9x5 inch loaf pans.  Punch down the dough and divide in half.  Pat each half into a roughly 12x6 inch rectangle.  Cut the dough lengthwise into 3 even strips, leaving the dough attached at one end.  Braid the dough strips together, tucking under the ends.  Place the braided loaves in the prepared pans.  Cover the loaves loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap and let rise about 45 minutes or until the dough has risen about 1/2 inch above the pan. Preheat the oven to 350F.

Bake the bread for 30 to 45 minutes, until they are golden brown.  Remove loaves from the oven and immediately turn the bread out of the pans and let cool on a cooling rack.  Makes 2 loaves.

Enjoy!  -Cardamommy