Easy Beer Bread
In short: A no-yeast, no-knead loaf made with flour, baking powder and a bottle of beer, finished with a buttery crust. Stir it together and bake in 50 minutes. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 200 kcal
Beer bread is a quick bread that gets its lift from baking powder and the bubbles in the beer, so there is no yeast, no kneading and no rising time. The batter is stirred together in five minutes, and a pour of melted butter over the top gives the crust its golden color. The beer flavor is mild and slightly malty. It is good with soup, chili or a plate of cheese.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Grease a 23 x 13 cm (9 x 5 inch) loaf pan well, or line it with parchment paper.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
- Pour in the beer and half of the melted butter. Stir with a wooden spoon just until the flour is moistened. The batter will be thick and lumpy, like a very stiff muffin batter.
- Scrape the batter into the pan and level it lightly. Pour the remaining melted butter over the top.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the crust is deep golden and a skewer in the center comes out clean. A hollow sound when you tap the bottom also means it is done.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Serve warm, or wait 20 minutes so the slices cut cleanly.
Tips
- Use any beer you like. A light lager gives a mild loaf, while a dark ale or stout makes it darker and maltier. Very bitter beers can taste harsh.
- For a savory loaf, add 100 g (1 cup) grated cheese, 1 tablespoon chopped herbs or a chopped chili to the dry ingredients.
Questions and answers
Does the alcohol bake out of beer bread?
A large part cooks off, but some stays in the bread. Use alcohol-free beer if you want to avoid it completely.
Can I use self-rising flour for beer bread?
Yes. Replace the all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt with 375 g (3 cups) self-rising flour and keep the sugar.
Why is my beer bread dense?
The batter was probably overmixed or the beer was flat. Stir only until the flour disappears and use a freshly opened bottle.
How long does it take to make Easy Beer Bread?
About 1 h in total: 10 min of preparation and 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Easy Beer Bread?
About 200 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 35 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 200 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 35 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 385 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
