This Oatmeal Stout Beer Bread may be the most extraordinary beer bread you’ll ever make. Simple, quick and completely satisfies the impetus for baking bread. Its buttery, crunchy crust yields to a rich interior that will have you slicing another piece before you’ve finished the first.

When I started this blog, about four years ago, I noticed a food blogger who’s work I was really drawn to and admired. I ended up messaging her one night with about ten billion questions about blogging. She selflessly and patiently answered them all…and four years later…she’s still there for me. Jennifer Farley, from the lovely blog, Savory Simple, is probably the reason I’m still blogging.

So, you can imagine how excited I am to tell you that my dear friend Jen has published her own cookbook, The Gourmet Kitchen! I’ve been looking forward to this for over a year now! It’s a stunningly beautiful book, filled with approachable and doable gourmet recipes. Each recipe includes a gorgeous photo along with helpful, honest and well-written words to give you confidence and inspiration to have fun in the kitchen.

What I love about Jen’s recipes, is how creatively she uses fresh, seasonal and unprocessed ingredients. This book includes such a well-rounded variety of recipes that reflect how we all love to eat. There are tasty vegetarian options, like a Black Bean Tortilla Casserole (keep an eye out on my Instagram…I made that casserole and it is delicious!) You’ll find lots of meat, poultry and seafood recipes, like Korean Barbecue Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos, Andouille Macaroni and Cheese and Shrimp and Chorizo with Polenta. Jen is a fabulous baker…her Sweets and Treats section is so enticing. Some recipes I’ve got on my to-make list are: Salted Caramel Toffee Ice Cream, Chocolate Espresso Layer Cake, Pistachio Cardamom Baklava and Chocolate Malt Truffles. Are you as hungry as I am right now?

Let’s talk about this beer bread! I’ve been a fan of beer breads for many reasons. First, of course, they are simply delicious…they’ve got great texture and so much yeasty and full-bodied flavor. The best part about them is how easy they are. I mean, it’s as simple as whisking some dry ingredients and pouring a bottle of beer over them. How wonderful is that? This particular beer bread though…is extraordinary! The buttery crust is crunchy and crisp while the interior is full of great texture from the oats and the bubbly beer. A slice is perfect on its own, but really, a bit of soft butter is heavenly. Promise me you’ll make this…you will love it!