Original Beer Bread Recipe

Is there anything more comforting than the aroma and taste of freshly baked,
warm, crusty bread? Restaurants understand this perfectly, often serving a
basket of warm bread before you even order, knowing that it sets the stage for
a memorable meal. This easy beer bread recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Have you ever heard of beer bread or even bought a beer bread mix? Beer bread
is rich, slightly sweet, incredibly moist, and bursting with flavor. It boasts
a rustic, crunchy crust and a hearty texture that makes it amazing and very
easy to make.

Beer bread is similar to Irish
soda bread, both made without yeast. It pairs perfectly with hearty
beef
stew, and is also delicious with Instant Pot beef stew or
crockpot beef stew.

About Homemade Beer Bread

Quick and Easy: Beer bread is a type of
quick
bread, meaning it’s made without yeast and doesn’t require any rise
time. This is what makes it so easy! While it may taste yeasty, it’s actually
baking powder that causes the bread to rise. The process is similar to
Irish soda bread,
another popular quick-rise recipe.

Cost-Effective: Beer bread mixes can be pricey. But the good
news is, you don’t need a kit to make delicious beer bread. You probably
already have everything you need: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt,
honey, butter, and beer.

Simple Ingredients: You can make this recipe with things you
likely already have on hand! And you don’t even have to use beer if you don’t
want to.

Beer Versatility: The great thing about this recipe is its
flexibility. You can use light beer, dark beer, cheap beer, or craft beer. We
found that the bread even turned out fine with soda water (unflavored
carbonated water). The only beer we didn’t care for was beer with high IBU,
such as IPAs, because of the bitter flavor it gave the bread.

Endless Variations: This recipe is a great base for
experimentation! Try baking the bread in a round casserole dish or muffin
tins. You can also add cheese, herbs, or dried fruit to the batter. And if
you don’t have honey, feel free to use sugar instead.

Ingredient Notes

• All-Purpose Flour: This recipe calls for regular all-purpose
  flour, not bread flour. I usually choose unbleached flour, as it’s treated
  with fewer chemicals and has a slightly coarser texture. Although some
  bakers prefer bleached flour for pastries and cookies, the difference in
  this recipe is indiscernible.
• Baking Powder: Because this is a quick bread recipe, baking
  powder is used instead of yeast. This means it doesn’t need to rise and
  ferment. The beer does, however, add a yeast-like flavor.
• Salt: Salt is essential in bread making. Without it, the
  bread will taste very flat.
• Beer: There are so many beer varieties available, and each
  one will add a unique flavor to your bread. For best results, use beer that
  is at room temperature. See the cooking tip below for more recommendations.

• Honey: Sometimes honey can become thick or crystallize. If
  this is the case, warm it briefly in the microwave so it blends more easily
  into the batter. You can substitute sugar if you don’t have honey on hand.
• Butter: While I usually recommend unsalted butter for
  baking, I like to use salted butter for this bread. The extra saltiness
  really enhances the flavor.

How To Make Beer Bread

Making beer bread is incredibly easy, and the steps are simple! Here’s how to
make this amazing bread:

Preheat the Oven: Before you even start mixing the ingredients,
preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Since this bread comes together quickly,
you’ll want the oven hot and ready to go!

Prep the Pan: Grease your loaf pan generously with butter. This
will give you an amazing crust all the way around. You can also use nonstick
cooking spray if you prefer.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the
flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a spoon to lightly scoop the flour out of
the storage container into a dry measuring cup. If you use the measuring cup
to scoop directly from the bag, the flour will be too compacted, and you’ll
end up with too much flour in your bread.

Level off the measuring cup with a straight edge, such as the flat side of a
table knife. Avoid shaking the flour to level it, as this will also compact
it.

Melt the Butter (and Honey): Melt the butter in the microwave or
in a small saucepan. If your honey is thick or crystallized, heat it up too
until it is very liquid.

Combine: Add the beer, half of the melted butter (save the
other half to pour over the top of the bread batter), and the honey to the dry
ingredients in the bowl. Stir until just combined. The beer will foam up.

This is normal; just stir it in but don’t over-stir the batter. You should
still see some bubbles.

Pour into the Pan: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and
smooth the top with a spatula.

Top with Butter: Pour the remaining melted butter over the top
of the batter. This will help create a beautiful, golden crust.

Bake: Bake the bread for approximately 50 minutes, or until the
top is dry and golden brown. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into
the center of the loaf. It should come out clean or with a few crumbs, but
not sticky batter.

You might notice that the top of your bread doesn’t have a perfectly smooth
crust. This beer bread is more rustic in style, with a shaggy top. This is
part of the appeal!

Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the
pan for about 10 minutes. Then, remove it from the pan and place it on a wire
rack to cool completely. It’s best to slice the bread when it has cooled, but
you can certainly serve it warm if you prefer!

Enjoy your beer bread! It’s delicious served with softened butter, honey, or
homemade strawberry
freezer jam. Beer bread is also a wonderful accompaniment to homemade
soup. Try it with one of my 12
easy crockpot soup recipes.

FAQs

Recipe Variations

There are many ways to make this beer bread recipe your own! Try these
ideas:

• Experiment with Beers: The possibilities are endless! Each
  beer will impart a unique flavor to the bread. Have fun experimenting with
  different types!
• Beer-Free Bread: Use soda water (unflavored) instead of
  beer. Check out my Irish
  soda bread, a quick bread, similar to beer bread, but without the beer.
• Add-ins: Add shredded cheese, herbs, or dried fruit to the
  batter.
• Make Muffins or a Round Loaf: Bake the bread in muffin
  tins or a round casserole dish.

Storage Tips

To store your homemade beer bread, let it cool completely before placing it
in an airtight container. It will keep on the counter for a couple of days.
Keep in mind that, unlike store-bought bread, homemade bread doesn’t contain
preservatives. For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator or freeze for
up to 3 months.

To refresh leftover bread, toast it lightly. This will bring back its
delicious, crusty texture.