Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (2024)

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This easy homemade Beer Bread recipe is soft and tender on the inside with a delicate, buttery crust. It really is the easiest of all quick bread recipes! Simply stir a handful of ingredients together and bake – prepped and ready to enjoy in one hour! So good with Crockpot Chili or Zuppa Toscana Soup!

Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (1)

Easy Beer Bread Recipe

I’m a big fan of quick breads because they take just minutes to prep and then off to the oven they go. An hour later you’re enjoying a warm tasty piece of bread and wondering why life is so good.

This beer bread recipe is no exception and honestly, I can’t think of an easier bread recipe. Just a handful of ingredients are all you need!

This easy quick bread is perfect for serving with soups, chilis, casseroles and more.

Baking this weekend? Try my Homemade Cornbread, Cinnamon Bread, and Lemon Bread too!

Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (2)

What To Serve with Beer Bread

I love serving bread, biscuits or rolls as a side with soups, stews, chilis and cozy comfort food. Here are some of our favorites to serve alongside this easy beer bread recipe:

  • Beer Cheese Soup
  • One Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
  • Crockpot Chili
  • Sausage Kale Soup
  • Perfect Pot Roast and Gravy

Top with a smear of honey butter and this bread is irresisitble!

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What Kind of Beer Should I Use?

Any kind of beer will work for this recipe so my advice is to use beer that you like and would drink. You will be able to taste the beer in the bread.

Darker beer tends to add better flavor but light beer, pale ales, and other types of beer work too.

Just like with my Beer Cheese Dip, Beer Cheese Soup, and Bacon Ranch Beer Cheeseball, any beer will work so use your favorite.

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Beer Bread Ingredients

There are only six ingredients in this recipe but each one plays a very important role. Use high quality ingredients for the best results. Let’s take a look at what you need:

  • all purpose flour – a lot of beer bread recipes call for self rising flour but I rarely have that on hand so I like to use all purpose flour in this recipe.
  • granulated sugar – honey can be used in place of sugar. The sugar is personal preference andcan be reduced to as little as 2 tablespoons.
  • baking powder – just a teensy about but helps with this leavener helps with the rise of the bread as it bakes.
  • salt – I used sea salt but kosher salt will work too.
  • beer – the yeast in the beer acts as a leavening agent in this bread recipe as well as giving the bread a delicious, yeasty flavor
  • butter – go with salted. The butter adds a ton of flavor so don’t skip it. The butter goes in the bread as well as on top of the batter before baking giving this beer bread an extra buttery delicious flavor.

How To Make Beer Bread

This bread is so easy to make. We’re talking less than 5 minutes to pull it all together. Let’s take a look:

Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (4)
  1. Preheat oven and grease loaf pan.
  2. Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Add wet ingredients. Stir in beer and melted butter just until combined.
  4. Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and top with slices of butter.
  5. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Brush with additional melted butter if desired.
  6. Let cool in loaf pan for 15 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Serve with butter and honey if desired. Or better yet, top with myhoney butter!
Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (5)

FAQS

Can I use honey instead of sugar?

Yes. The sugar can be substituted with honey. You can use anywhere from two tablespoons to one quarter cup.

Can I reduce the sugar?

Yes. The sugar is personal preference and can be reduced to as little as two tablespoons. It also really depends on the type of beer you are using as well.

Can I serve beer bread to my kids?

The alcohol in the beer evaporates as the bread bakes so it is safe for kids to consume.

Can I freeze beer bread?

Freeze this bread for up to 3 months by wrapping in plastic wrap and then foil. Place in a freezer safe bag. Let thaw at room temperature. Slices can be gently reheated in the toaster or toaster oven or even at 50% power in the microwave.

Variations To Try

This bread, while delicious on it’s own, is so fun to customize with add-ins. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Beer Cheese Bread. Nothing goes better with beer than cheese. You can add any type of cheese you like to this Beer Bread but I really prefer a nice sharp cheddar. Use up to 1 cup of shredded cheese.
  • Add herbs! Herbs add lovely flavor and color to this easy quick bread recipe. Parsley and chives are my two favorites. A couple tablespoons add a fabulous pop of flavor.
  • Bake with bacon. Bacon and beer are a match made in heaven, especially in this bread recipe! Bake bacon in the oven and chop into small pieces. Add half to a full cup of chopped bacon to this recipe. (Sub in some of the bacon drippings for a bit of the butter for more flavor!)
  • Go all in! Like the ideas above? Add all of them for a super tasty loaded beer bread! Go for half a cup of bacon, a few tablespoons of fresh chopped herbs, and about half a cup of cheese – or a bit more if you like it extra cheesy.
  • Make it spicy! Chopped jalapeños add a punch of flavor and color to this recipe. Use pickled jalapeños OR fresh jalapeños – your choice.
  • Roasted Garlic adds a ton of flavor to this bread. Wondering how to roast garlic? It’s easy! And it adds so much flavor to breads and soups!
  • Go Italian! A teaspoon or so of Italian seasoning adds wonderful flavor to this bread!
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Trish’s Tips

  • Don’t over mix the dough. Stir just until the ingredients are combined or the bread may end up tough.
  • There are only a few ingredients but they are ALL necessary. Don’t leave out the salt, sugar or butter. This is where the great flavor comes from.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 to 3 days. Don’t refrigerate this bread as it causes it to dry out.
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More Bread Recipes You’ll Love

  1. The BEST Dinner Rolls
  2. Homemade Cornbread
  3. Homemade Biscuits
  4. Cheddar Bay Biscuits
  5. Homemade Crescent Rolls

How To Make Beer Bread

Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (8)

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5 from 16 votes

Homemade Beer Bread

This easy homemade Beer Bread recipe is soft and tender on the inside with a delicate, buttery crust. It really is the easiest of all quick bread recipes! Simply stir a handful of ingredients together and bake – prepped and ready to enjoy in one hour!

Course bread

Cuisine American

Keyword beer bread, beer bread recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 215kcal

Author Trish – Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar can be reduced to as little as 2 tablespoons
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 ounces beer 1 bottle
  • 8 tablespoons butter divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan and set aside.

  • Melt two tablespoons of butter and set aside to cool. Slice remaining butter into 6 to 8 pieces and set aside.

  • Whisk together all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

  • Add beer and stir just until almost combined. Add melted butter and stir to combine.

  • Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and top with slices of butter.

  • Bake for 50 to 65 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Brush with additional melted butter if desired.

  • Let cool in loaf pan for 15 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Serve with butter and honey if desired. Or better yet, top with my honey butter!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 263mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 233IU | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg

Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of beer is best for beer bread? ›

Lighter beers, such as lagers, ales and pilsners, will give your bread a lighter color, and mild taste that just about everyone loves. Darker beers like stouts and porters make a darker-colored loaf and have a stronger beer flavor. Hoppy beers like IPAs will give your bread a more bitter taste.

Does beer have to be room temperature for beer bread? ›

Use room temperature beer: This helps the bread rise and creates a better texture than cold beer. Don't over-mix: After adding the beer to the dry ingredients, mix enough until just incorporated and nothing more. Overworking the dough will create a very dense loaf.

Does beer bread have alcohol after baking? ›

Description. Beer bread can be a simple quick bread or a yeast bread flavored with beer. Beer and bread have a common creation process: yeast is used to turn sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol. In the case of bread, a great percentage of the alcohol evaporates during the baking process.

Does the alcohol in beer bread cook out? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), baked or simmered dishes that contain alcohol will retain 40% of the original amount after 15 minutes of cooking, 35% after 30 minutes and 25% after an hour. But there's no point at which all of the alcohol disappears.

What happens if I use all purpose flour instead of bread flour? ›

If you make a bread dough with all-purpose flour, the gluten network won't be as strong because of the lower protein content; this means the dough won't be able to stretch as much to accommodate those bubbles, resulting in smaller bubbles and bread with a tighter crumb.

Can I use water instead of beer in beer bread? ›

Can You Use Something Other Than Beer in Beer Bread? Absolutely! Almost any carbonated or noncarbonated beverage can be used, including water, soda pop, milk or buttermilk, fruit juice and even creamed corn! In general substitute 12 fluid ounces of whatever liquid you choose in place of beer.

Why is my beer bread so dense? ›

Luckily, if you encounter this problem every time you break out the beer and the batter, there is an easy fix for your next loaf: Watch how much you're working it. Overworking the dough of your beer bread will affect the texture, causing it to turn from soft and chewy to tough and condensed.

Why is my beer bread so crumbly? ›

Your Bread Has Too Much Flour

Adding too much flour is one common mistake for beginning bakers. This produces dry bread with more crumbs. The key is finding the balance between flour and liquid ingredients in your recipe. It can be tricky because bread recipes don't always give you an exact amount of flour.

Is Miller High Life good for beer bread? ›

I've made beer bread with everything from craft beers (Allagash White, Moosehead, etc.), to commercial beers like Heineken, Miller Highlife, and Samuel Adams Boston Lager (which we found lends more of a pronounced aroma than others on the list, and didn't make our favorite loaf).

Can kids eat beer bread? ›

Keep in mind, the alcohol evaporates in the baking process, so it is safe for the kids to enjoy as well. Add in cheese if you like, it's not necessary, but it is delicious. Drizzling butter on top helps it have a nice crust. This beer bread comes together in less than 5 minutes and bakes in less than an hour!

What to eat with beer bread? ›

Again, due to its dense texture, beer bread goes perfectly with dips and spreads. Serve up a thick slice with your favorite spread or cube a loaf to use as an appetizer with your favorite dip or dipping oil. Think brisket, chicken, ribs, steaks, pork loin – all pair wonderfully with a slice of beer bread.

Why does my bread taste of alcohol? ›

That flavor just means that the yeast has been given sufficient time to work. The alcohol evaporates at the temperatures that bread bakes.

What's the best beer to use for beer bread? ›

Use a light beer, a stout, a pale ale … that pumpkin beer hiding in the back of your fridge. You can make a few additions to complement a beer style and flavor, but most of that flavor will come from what you've added. For basic beer bread, you'll stir together self-rising flour and sugar.

Can kids eat food cooked with wine? ›

The choice is up to you. You may choose to use cooking methods that help to reduce the alcohol content and use less alcohol in a dish to make it safer for your child. Otherwise the safer option is to choose to leave out alcoholic drinks when preparing food for babies and children.

Why do you put beer in beer bread? ›

The yeast in the beer interacts with the sugar to help the bread to rise (and the baking powder gives the bread an additional boost to keep it from becoming dense). Be wise, however, in choosing the beer you use. A beer with fruit tones will lend a sweeter, fruity bread.

What is the best beer to bake with? ›

When baking with beer, amber and brown ales behave just as nicely as porters and stouts. Their low bitterness and nutty flavor with hints of caramel work well with cookies, pies, and sweet sauces.

What beer is better for beer batter? ›

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

What is bread beer made of? ›

The company start by collecting surplus bread from delis, bakeries and sandwich makers. It's then incorporated into the brewing process with malted barley, hops, yeast and water.

References

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