Betty Crocker Bracket Program: Cooking and Baking with Beer! {And a Recipe Too!}

My husband and I love going to craft beer tastings – St. Louis is home to many local breweries. There are so many beers that you can pair up with your meal that will compliment it perfectly!

I’ve even baked a few times with beer. I love making Pumpkin Bread with a local Pumpkin beer. And I know everyone has heard of beer can chicken! 😉

Did you know that beer is becoming the new wine? With the growing craft beer industry, more people are cooking with beer! Now that March Madness (NCAA basketball tournament) is here, so is the second annual “Betty Bracket” program presented by Betty Crocker and sports-loving actor and popular TV personality Mario Lopez!

The 16-recipe Betty Bracket program creates the ultimate recipe tip-off between eight savory “Beer Meets Bar Food” recipes and eight sweet “Beer Meets Bakery” recipes. Each recipe features beer as an ingredient to provide a unique flavor and also helps deliver the perfect assist to any viewing party. Fans will have the opportunity to cast their vote online to determine the nation’s top party food in three rounds of voting.

There are four smaller brackets – “Cheesetastic”, “Meaty Eats”, “Chocolate!”, and “Sweet Treats” – and include ideas like Beer Queso Nachos (Mario’s favorite!) and Black and Tan Beer Pops, which plays upon the current craze for frozen pops.

If you’re going to be cooking with beer, check out these tips!

– Beer has a tenderizing effect and is a perfect matchup for meat-based recipes

– Beer helps keep baked good moist and fresh, while adding a little extra puff

– The beer flavors will be enhanced in those recipes with a longer cooking time

– Craft beers are ideal as a cooking ingredient due to the quality and variety of flavors available

Check out all of the Betty Bracket Recipes!

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, there are four new chocolate stout recipes that capitalize on the festive flavor of Guinness and other stout beers.

Check out Betty Crocker’s recipe below for Beer and Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Photo Credit: Betty Crocker

Ingredients

Cookies

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

2 tablespoons stout beer

2 cups mini-pretzel twists, coarsely crushed

Frosting

1/2 cup whipping cream2 tablespoons butter5 oz semisweet baking chocolate, finely chopped2 tablespoons stout beer

Topping

24 mini-pretzel twists

Create

Heat oven to 375°F.

In large bowl, stir cookie mix, 1/2 cup butter, the egg and 2 tablespoons beer until soft dough forms. Stir in crushed pretzels.

On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely before frosting.

Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream and 2 tablespoons butter to just boiling over medium heat. Remove from heat and add chocolate; stir with whisk until melted and smooth. Stir in 2 tablespoons beer. Pour into bowl; cover and refrigerate about 1 to 2 hours or until spreading consistency.

Spread about 2 teaspoons frosting on each cookie; top each with 1 pretzel twist, pressing in gently. Store loosely covered and enjoy!