Who is intimidated to work with yeast? Hello out there? I know that I’m not the only one. It’s temperamental and I since I don’t have experience working with it, I’d second guess every step of the recipe. Perhaps I’m not inclined to experiment with it since I have a husband who loves to make bread (and he’s awesome at it). He actually likes that it’s a bit of an art to judge what is going on biologically when making bread. Go figure. Whether we are a hosting a dinner party or want to make homemade pizza for two, it’s a no brainer that my husband takes the lead. I certainly don’t mind sitting back and letting him do the work. 😉
However, when I find a bread recipe that doesn’t contain yeast, like this delicious beer bread then I’m all over it!
Beer Bread Recipe
(Makes 1 loaf)
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (12 ounce) beer
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix in the beer.
- Pour the batter into the greased pan.
- Carefully pour the melted butter on top of the bread.
- Bake it in the preheated oven for 55-60 minutes.
- Let it rest in the pan for a few minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool.
Store in an air tight container at room temperature or in a freezer friendly bag in the freezer.
Beer bread can be a yeast bread flavored with beer or a quick bread (no yeast at all). This recipe does not have yeast in it so it’s a simple quick bread (quick because you don’t have to wait for the dough to rise before baking it). It will likely be one of the easiest and quickest bread you’ll ever make.
Baking soda is the only leavening agent in this recipe unless you count the bubbles in the beer. That makes a chewy and dense loaf that isn’t terribly likely to get those big air pockets you find in yeast bread. That’s not necessarily a bad thing and in fact I think this bread’s dense texture is one of the great things about it. It’s a cross between a corn bread and a scone. Both of these goodies tend to be dense and they’re awesome too. 🙂
Pour the batter into the loaf pan and then pour the melted butter on top. Isn’t butter awesome? It gives this bread a lot of great flavor.
It has the slight essence of beer flavor. It’s barely there that even those who don’t like beer may like this bread (like my sisters). Even if you don’t drink alcohol you can use a near beer instead.
This is not a sweet bread even though there is a bit of sugar in the recipe. The sweetness from the sugar is really just to offset the bitterness of the beer.
The melted butter poured over the top drips down the sides of the loaf as it puffs up in the oven. This results in a buttery crust on both the top and bottom! I realize the amount of butter in the recipe may give you thoughts like “this can’t be right, this is way too much butter” (or it did for me at least) but trust me, it’s the right amount. 🙂
While it doesn’t technically need butter when you eat it, it is bread after all. I used a tiny star shaped cookie cutter on the pad of butter to make it almost infinitely cuter.
Can you see the buttery crust on the bottom? Mmm, good.
Bread without yeast, and still awesome. What other kinds of quick breads do you love?
Thank you Julie, at Julie’s Eat and Treats, for a fantastic bread recipe!
This bread would be perfect with:
I’m with you on the yeast. I’ve done it, but not enough! I made a beer bread a while back and loved it for its simplicity and how delicious is was didn’t hurt! Yours looks perfect, Tina!
Thanks! 🙂
Yeast is very intimidating to a lot people…but now it’s my best friend! I can’t get enough of it! I love this recipe…pinning!
Awesome and thank you. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend Gloria!
I do love working with yeast, but gosh, I have to admit that this bread looks awesome as well!!!! That crust?? Totally calling my name… I need this in my life right now, please! x
Hehe. Yeeeaaa, this crust is ridiculous good. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
I love how easy it is to make beer bread. It’s way less finicky than yeast bread, which is totally intimidating. That crust looks delicious! I like soda bread too, and of course banana 🙂
I’ve never tried to make soda bread but banana bread is definitely a classic favorite in our home too. 🙂
Beer bread was one of the first breads I made on my own and it is seriously one of my favorite breads ever. I was really excited when I saw this:) I just overcame my fear of yeast breads this past year and now am addicted to making it … but my favorite breads are banana or pumpkin quick breads. I just love bread:) Love your pics on this post, they are really good!
You are very kind, thank you. 🙂 Kudos to you for working with yeast!
Yeast is definitely a tricky thing my friend, it took me a while to master it. 🙂 Thanks so much for a great recipe, this beer bread reminds me of back home. {wisconsin} 🙂
Awh, I’m glad it reminded you of your home sweet home. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend Krista!
I am TOTALLY intimidated by yeast. And kneading too so you’re not alone. Beer bread is one of my favorites to make. Aren’t they easy and oh so tasty? Pairs great with soups and stews. YUM!
How hot should the water be? When do you start to mix? How much to knead? How long to rise?…Um, yea, I’m stressed just thinking about working with yeast. 😉 I’ll stick to my quick breads for now and leave the hubby to the yeast breads. Maybe one day I’ll bold to try it. 🙂
I only recently started baking with yeast, but agree that it can be intimidating. This beer bread looks so good- something similar has been on my list to make for a while now. Love that you cut the butter into the shape of a star 🙂
I give you a lot of credit for baking yeast breads! Isn’t the star shaped butter too cute?! Glad you like it as much as me. 🙂
I was just telling someone the other day how baking with yeast is so intimidating! That’s why I love beer bread and other quick breads so much! This looks sooo good, Tina! Love the little butter star 🙂
Hehe, thanks Ashley. 🙂
I love baking with yeast. I have a cinnamon raisin bread recipe on my blog that is so easy and SO good! You should try it – you’ll have success with it.
I haven’t had beer bread in forever, but I always remember loving it. Looks great!
I have been wanting to make a cinnamon raisin bread for a while now so it’s funny that you mention that! Easy, you say? 😉 I will definitely check it out. You always make amazing recipes!
I also love beer bread. Looking forward to trying a new recipe. Have yet to find one I’ve fallen in love with besides the *ahem* boxed version. Hoping for a new fav!
Lol! Boxed versions can be awesome too, especially in a pinch. 😉 Of course everyone has their likes/dislikes, but this beer bread is seriously a winner in our home. If you try it, I hope you like it as much as we do. In fact, I already have plans to make it again, but with some added ingredients, like olives, cheese, or herbs.
Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
This looks wonderful and so simple! I usually do a soda bread on nights when I need something quick. Have you tried this recipe with whole wheat ?
Thanks Sherri! I have not tried this recipe using whole wheat flour but I bet it would be a great variation. Let me know if you end up trying it with whole wheat.
This bread looks great! I used to be scared of yeast, but started baking with it about 2 years ago and haven’t looked back since! But I still love a good bread recipe, yeast or not! That butter in the pan, omg. I need to try this!
That butter is crazy, right? I need to be like you and just jump into baking with yeast. It’s just like anything else…experience, experience, experience. 🙂
I have never had beer bread before but this certainly looks fantastic! Pinned!
Thanks so much Trish!
I love quick breads! This is such a wonderful bread to go with a bowl of soup. And I’m totally convinced that yeast does not like me!
I totally agree…this goes great with soup! Yeah, yeast doesn’t like me either. 😉
Okay I super love making bread and I’m not afraid of yeast but leaving it out sure does make things a little easier. NOW. Let’s talk about that star-shaped butter. SO CUTE!!!!
Hehe. I was trying to find a way to make bread look fun and a star shaped butter pad came to mind. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
This beer bread looks great! I need to buy beer so I can make it tonight!
Awesome! I hope you like it as much as we do. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
YUM!
Indeed. 🙂
beer has yeast IN it, so this bread DOES have yeast in it.
Yes beer is made with yeast but that doesn’t mean it brings any live yeast to this bread. Even using beer that was prepared with a bottle conditioned yeast brings very little yeast to the party. The leavening in this bread comes from the baking powder. That’s why there is no time allotted for rising the dough.
This looks amazing and super easy! Definitely going to try this!
What kind of beer do you use?
Awesome! I used Bud Light because that was what I had handy when I made it. Next time I’ll use my favorite, Sam Adams. Let me know how you make out. I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂