X

Quick & Easy Beer Bread

This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you buy from them, I will make a few pennies, at no cost to you. See disclosure here.

With only six ingredients and four steps, this beer bread recipe is super easy! No yeast needed and you can whip it up in about five minutes!

loaf of sliced beer bread on a cutting board

Self Rising Beer Bread

Do you know how easy it is to make beer bread? Really, most bread is really easy to make.

Have you tried my homemade pita bread (only 4 ingredients!) or onion dill bread?

While those are easy, this beer bread doesn’t require yeast and there’s no kneading involved.

Add the fact that it only has six ingredients and is mixed up in one bowl, and it doesn’t get much easier.

Serve it warm with butter and jelly and thank me later =)

Ingredients

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.

  • Flour – All purpose, white flour. Nothing fancy here.
  • Baking Powder – for rise & keeps the bread from being too dense.
  • Salt
  • Sugar – granulated white sugar.
  • Butter – I like to use salted but use whichever you like.
  • Beer – The yeast in the beer interacts with the sugar to help the bread to rise. Use your favorite beer or you can use seltzer water if you’re not a beer drinker.
ingredients laid out to make bread

How to make Beer Bread

This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. STEP ONE: To a mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, 3 Tbs melted butter, and beer and stir until smooth (some lumps are okay)
  2. STEP TWO: Pour the batter into a lightly greased 9×5 loaf pan and smooth to the edges.
  3. STEP THREE: Drizzle the remaining 3 Tbs melted butter over the top. 
  4. STEP FOUR: Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
beer bread batter with melted butter poured over it

For even more flavor, brush on 1-2 Tablespoons melted butter once its finished cooking.

WHAT IS THE CONSISTENCY OF BEER BREAD?

Beer bread is quite dense so don’t expect light and fluffy. It’s not like white sandwich bread. It’s quite filling and tastes great warm. It has a bite to the inside of the bread and a fantastic crunchy, buttery top. 

WHICH KIND OF BEER IS BEST?

The type of beer used in beer bread really depends on you and your personal preferences.

The short answer- use your favorite type of beer. The bread will take on the flavor of the beer, but with less intensity.

If you prefer the taste of a heavy stout, use that. If you prefer a light, slightly tangy beer, pour that one in. You can also use a spiced or flavored beer.

I have heard of people using spiced apple cider for a sweeter bread.

If you don’t drink beer or don’t have any on hand, use 1 ½ cup seltzer water instead. The bubbles in the seltzer water will provide the lift that you need to make the bread rise. 

slice of beer bread with blue checkered towel

CAN I USE SELF-RISING FLOUR?

If you have self-rising flour, you can use that instead of all-purpose flour. Just make sure to omit the baking powder and salt because those two ingredients are already in the self-rising flour.

This also applies to wheat flour. Just be aware that with wheat flour, it will result in a denser bread. 

CAN I FEED IT TO MY KIDS?

Beer bread won’t get you drunk and it perfectly safe for children to eat. The majority of the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process and leaves you with a greater depth of flavor.

If you are worried about feeding this to your kids, use seltzer water or a non-alcoholic beer instead. They are going to love it either way! 

HOW LONG CAN I STORE BEER BREAD FOR?

This bread will stay fresh for 3-5 days at room temperature. You can refrigerate it for 7-10 days in an airtight container.

This bread also freezes well and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months for best quality. I recommend slicing the bread first before freezing.

overhead shot of bread in loaf pan

NEED MORE QUICK BREAD RECIPES IN YOUR LIFE? TRY THESE:

TOOLS FOUND ON AMAZON TO HELP YOU:

sliced bread with title

CONNECT WITH PERSNICKETY PLATES!

Follow along on my social media so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

I made a fun group on Facebook for sharing recipes, asking questions, and talking about food. I’d love to have you! Request to join HERE.

Also, sign up to receive an email in your inbox for each new recipe:

FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION & EBOOK

If you MAKE & LOVE this recipe, share it on Instagram and tag me @melissa_pplates and/or #persnicketyplates so I can see it. I LOVE seeing what you make & I’ll share it in my stories!

loaf of sliced beer bread on a cutting board

Beer Bread

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
With only six ingredients and four steps, this beer bread recipe is super easy! No yeast needed and you can whip it up in about five minutes!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 1 loaf
Calories 2236 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned into measuring cups
  • 3 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoo salt
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons butter melted & divided in half
  • 1 ½ cups beer or seltzer water

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F & lightly grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Set aside.
  • To a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, 3 Tbs melted butter, and beer and stir until smooth (some lumps are okay).
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth to the edges. Drizzle with remaining 3 Tbs melted butter.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • For even more flavor, brush on 1-2 Tbs melted butter once it’s finished cooking.

Notes

Best when served warm with butter and jam.
If you have self-rising flour, you can use that instead of all-purpose flour. Just make sure to omit the baking powder and salt. Those two ingredients are already in your self-rising flour. This also applies to wheat flour. Just be aware that with wheat flour, it will result in a denser bread.
Store 3-5 days at room temperature. You can refrigerate it for 7-10 days in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 2236kcalCarbohydrates: 330gProtein: 41gFat: 73gSaturated Fat: 44gCholesterol: 183mgSodium: 1806mgPotassium: 2012mgFiber: 10gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 2129IUCalcium: 741mgIron: 19mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @melissa_pplates or tag #persnicketyplates!

Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying/pasting and/or screenshots of full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected.



Reader Interactions

    Share Your Thoughts

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Lindsay Dunn says

    5 stars
    This bread was fantastic! I served it with a bowl and vegetable soup. I may try it with the seltzer water, as I don’t always have beer on hand. 5 stars, for sure!!!!

  2. Bob Theroux says

    5 stars
    Hi Melissa, We made this and it was excellent. Used Blue Moon beer. Thinking about making it again but with Prosecco instead of beer.
    Do you think Prosecco would work as good as seltzer?
    Love your recipes. 🙂

    • Melissa Williams says

      Thanks Bob! I haven’t tested with prosecco but I feel like it’s bubbly enough to work. Let me know if you end up trying!

  3. Judith Grossenbacher says

    Can I use gluten free flour 1/1 in this recipe?

    • Melissa Williams says

      I haven’t tested that to say how it’ll turn out.

Melissa Williams/Persnickety Plates is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For more details, please see my Privacy Policy & Disclosures page.