The Best Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (2024)

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ByAnn Drake

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This easy homemade beer bread recipe makes the perfect side dish to your favorite soup or salad, and adds a hearty touch to any meal. Uses simple ingredients found in your pantry.

When I receive a request from a reader, I’m always happy to oblige. So when I got an email asking if I had an easy recipe for homemade beer bread, I went looking. I knew I used to have one…but I had no idea if it was still in my recipe box. Turns out, it was!

I know I made this recipe a few times, but it was so long ago, that I didn’t remember a.) how easy it was, and b.) how delicious it was. This is a savory and rustic bread, that goes well with soups, salads, roasts, and more. So grab a bottle of beer, and let’s head to the kitchen!

Why This Recipe Works

This classic recipe for savory beer bread is super simple, and uses just 5 ingredients. It has a buttery crust with great flavor, and should definitely be added to your collection of quick bread recipes!

​The Simple Ingredients

This delicious recipe has just 5 basic ingredients and is baked in a standard loaf pan. Since there are no extra spices, the flavor of the beer shines through. Don’t make any substitutions for the ingredients, because this beer bread has a wonderful yeasty flavor, and bakes perfectly every time.

  • All purpose flour
  • White sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Salted butter: if you don’t have salted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the dry ingredients before adding the beer.
  • Beer

Easy Additions

Although amazing on its own, you can add the following toppers to this irresistible buttery beer bread:

  • Various herbs. After removing the loaf of bread from the pan, sprinkle it with finely chopped parsley, rosemary, or thyme.
  • Shredded cheese. When the loaf of bread is still hot, before slicing, add finely shredded cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese to the top of the loaf.
  • It’s also delicious to add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the top of the loaf before baking.

How To Make

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Prepare a 9 x 5 glass baking dish. (I use Baker’s Joy to prepare my baking pans.)
  • Divide the stick of butter in two.
  • Melt one half of the butter.
  • Pour the 4 tablespoons of melted butter into prepared baking dish.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl with a hand mixer, add the flour, sugar, and baking powder.
  • Using the paddle attachment, on the lowest speed, mix together the dry ingredients.
  • Still on the lowest speed, slowly add the beer.
  • Mix just until combined, making sure to get all the flour incorporated. The dough will come together and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Pour dough into glass baking dish. Smooth to the sides. (It’s OK if the corners aren’t filled. They will fill as the bread bakes.)
  • Divide the other half stick of butter into 6 slices.
  • Place butter pats on top of the loaf.
  • Place dough filled baking dish on a cookie sheet.
  • Baking time is 50-60 minutes. Bread is done when the top is golden brown and a knife inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.
  • Let bread cool on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes or until all the butter has been soaked back into the bread.
  • Remove from pan, slice, and serve.

Tips For Great Beer Bread

  • If you don’t have a stand mixer, a regular mixer can be used. The dough can also be mixed by hand.
  • Don’t worry about getting the dough perfectly placed in the pan. The dough comes away easily from the mixing bowl, but it is slightly sticky. After the dough goes in the pan, smooth it out the best you can, but a rustic look is what you want.
  • Make sure you put a cookie sheet under the bread pan before you place it in the oven. As the butter heats up and bubbles, it may overflow.
  • This beer bread recipe is delicious warm from the oven. It’s a large loaf, so chances are it won’t get eaten all at once. It can be wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container for up to two days at room temperature. After that, it’s best to place it in the refrigerator.
  • If you like quick bread with a dense, hearty texture, this recipe is for you. Because it’s so sturdy, it works well to slice the loaf with a serrated knife.
  • After a few days, the slices of bread can be warmed in the microwave. They also make the best toast ever!

What Kind of Beer?

For this loaf, I used a bottle of Yuengling traditional lager, which is an amber beer. I am not a beer expert, but I know that many recipes call for a darker beer. Any type of beer can be used: light beer, pale ales, even flavored beers like pumpkin beer. My advice is to use your favorite beer, or whatever you have on hand.

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More Homemade Bread Recipes

  • Rosemary Buttermilk Quick Bread
  • Apple Bread with Walnuts
  • Delicious Banana Bread
  • Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe

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Beer Bread Recipe

This savory & easy beer bread recipe makes the perfect side to any soup or salad, and adds a hearty touch to any meal. Uses basic pantry ingredients.

Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.64 from 11 votes

Servings: 10 slices

Author: Ann Drake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Resting Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
  • 12 oz. beer

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Prepare a 9 x 5 glass baking dish. (I use Baker's Joy to prepare my baking pans.)

  • Divide the stick of butter in two.

  • Melt one half of the butter.

  • Pour the melted butter into prepared baking dish.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, sugar, and baking powder.

  • Using the paddle attachment, on the lowest speed, mix together the flour, sugar, and baking powder.

  • Still on the lowest speed, slowly add the beer.

  • Mix just until combined, making sure to get all the flour incorporated. The dough will come together and pull away from the sides of the bowl.

  • Pour dough into glass baking dish. Smooth to the sides. (It's OK if the corners aren't filled. They will fill as the bread bakes.)

  • Divide the other half stick of butter into 6 slices.

  • Top dough with butter pats.

  • Place dough filled baking dish on a cookie sheet.

  • Bake for 50-60 minutes. Bread is done when the top is golden brown and a knife inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.

  • Let rest on a cooling rack for 5 to 10 minutes or until all the butter has been soaked back into the bread.

  • Remove from pan, slice, and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg

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If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!

The Best Homemade Beer Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best beer to make beer bread with? ›

A hoppy beer will result in an extremely bitter loaf of bread. That said, you do want the flavor of the beer to come through, so choosing something too light won't add much flavor either. I prefer brown ale, lager, and even some porters.

What is the secret to making bread? ›

12 tips for making perfect bread
  • Use the right yeast. ...
  • Store your yeast properly. ...
  • Treat salt with care. ...
  • Take your time. ...
  • Try different flours. ...
  • Consider vitamin C. ...
  • Practice makes perfect. ...
  • Don't prove for too long.

What is the secret to success when making quick breads? ›

Quick breads are typically mixed by hand, and it's important not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can cause the gluten in the flour to develop, resulting in a tough and chewy bread. Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined, and then stop. If there are a few lumps in the batter, that's okay.

How to tell when beer bread is done? ›

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and spread it out. Pour the butter on top of the batter in the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour. The bread will be done when the top turns a dark golden brown color and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the bread.

Why is my beer bread so dense? ›

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 bitter? ›

Of course, the final flavor depends a lot on the type of beer you choose to use. Some beers, such as IPAs, may give the bread a more bitter taste. What is this? I tend to stick with darker beers for a richer, less sour flavor.

What not to do when making bread? ›

The top mistakes you're making when you bake bread
  1. You're measuring incorrectly. ...
  2. Your yeast is old. ...
  3. You're using low-protein flour. ...
  4. You're using too much flour (or water) ...
  5. Your oven isn't hot enough.
Apr 15, 2020

What makes homemade bread taste better? ›

If you're looking to ramp up the taste of your favorite bread recipe, we recommend adding a bit of fat. A fat like butter, olive oil or coconut oil in small quantities will help your bread achieve a higher rise and it will also boost its flavor by tenfold.

What are the three most important ingredients in bread? ›

The principal ingredients in all bread are:
  • Flour.
  • Yeast.
  • Salt.
  • Water.

What is the main thing to avoid when making quick breads? ›

TIPS FOR MAKING QUICK BREAD

Baking is a science, and certain ingredients like flour and leavening agents need to be measured and added exactly how the recipe suggests. Avoid overmixing the batter as it can lead to tough, dense quick bread that may sink in the middle.

What's the purpose of an egg in a quick bread? ›

By surrounding small particles of fat, the egg helps make the quick bread batter smoother, thus contributing to volume and texture. In addition, when eggs are beaten, they incorporate tiny air bubbles that expand with heat in the oven, contributing to volume.

What are the 7 basic ingredients in quick bread? ›

Almost all quick breads have the same basic ingredients: flour, leavening, eggs, fat (butter, margarine, shortening, or oil), and liquid such as milk. Ingredients beyond these basic constituents are added for variations in flavor and texture.

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.

What pairs well with beer bread? ›

Think brisket, chicken, ribs, steaks, pork loin – all pair wonderfully with a slice of beer bread. When you're trying to keep it lighter, pair beer bread with your favorite salad. We highly recommend Caesar salad!

Why does my homemade bread taste like beer? ›

If your bread has a sour, yeasty flavour and smells of alcohol then you have either used too much yeast.or you may have use stale yeast or creamed fresh yeast with sugar.

What beer is best in beer batter? ›

10 Best Beers to Use in Beer Batter Recipes
  • PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) ...
  • Coors Banquet. ...
  • Old Milwaukee. ...
  • Deschutes Brewery's Bachelor ESB. ...
  • Widmer Brothers' Drop Top Amber Ale. ...
  • Samuel Smith's Pure Brewed Organic Lager. ...
  • Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyn Lager. ...
  • Portland Brewing's MacTarnahan's Amber Ale.

What is the best beer to bake with? ›

Amber and brown ales tend to be less bitter than the alternatives and feature a nutty flavor. Because of this, these beers are often recommended for caramels, cookies, and pies. Light-colored beers have their place in baking, too. Lagers and Witbiers are used in lighter cakes and cookies.

What kind of beer to use for Trader Joe's beer bread? ›

It's also the phrase you'll find gracing each box of Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix. The flavor of the finished loaf really depends on what kind of beer you use: Go with a lager for a lighter profile, an IPA for a hearty, hoppy taste, or a stout for a rich result with a slightly darker finished product.

Is IPA good for beer bread? ›

Use a fully flavored beer. I adore IPA in my beer bread. Middle Ground. Amber beers strike a nice balance.

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