Beer Bread Recipe

Beer bread, as the name suggests, is a simple bread that uses beer in its creation process.The recipe is simple to make, and it requires only flour, beer and sugar. It is also hassle free to make beer bread at home as it needs the basic ingredients that are available at home. If you need a heavy and dense beer bread, you can use either yeast or an additional leavening agent like baking soda. For a thicker crust, just overcook the bread for five more minutes.

How to Make Beer Bread

Ingredients

• Self rising flour, 3 cups
• Beer, 1 can
• Melted butter, ¼ cup
• Sugar, 3 tablespoons

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, blend the rising flour, beer and sugar and mix them properly without any lumps. Grease a loaf pan with butter and pour the batter into it. Bake this mixture in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and apply melted butter on top of the bread. Tap the pan lightly at the bottom and if it gives out a hollow sound, then your bread is ready or else bake it for 10 minutes more.

Italian Beer Bread

Ingredients

• Self rising flour, 3 cups
• Beer, 1 can
• Softened butter, 2 tablespoons
• Sugar, 3 tablespoons
• Shortening, 1 tablespoon
• Grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup
• Dried Italian herbs, 1 tablespoon
• Cornmeal, 3 tablespoons

Preparation

Take a large mixing bowl and mix the flour, Italian herbs, sugar and cheese and combine properly. Add the beer and blend the mixture properly till it forms a stiff batter. Grease a loaf tray with shortening and sprinkle cornmeal. Transfer the batter to the pan and bake it in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for about 60 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and apply butter and cornmeal and allow it to cool before eating. You can serve this bread with dips or Italian salad.

Whole Wheat Beer Bread

Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour, 1½ cups
• Beer, 1 can
• Baking powder, 4½ teaspoons
• All-purpose flour, 1½ cups
• Salt, 1½ teaspoon
• Packed brown sugar, ⅓ cup

Preparation

In a large bowl, mix whole wheat flour, baking powder, all-purpose flour, brown sugar and salt. Add the beer and stir the mixture properly till it forms a stiff batter. You can mix this dough with your hands to avoid the formation of lumps. Transfer this batter to a greased loaf pan and bake it in a preheated oven at 175 ºC for about 60 minutes. To check if the loaf is cooked insert a toothpick and if it comes out clean, your whole wheat beer bread is ready.

Rye Beer Bread

Ingredients

• Bread or all-purpose flour, 3¾ cups
• Flat beer, ¾ cup
• Rye flour, 1¼ cups
• Butter or margarine, 1 tablespoon
• Active dry yeast, 5 teaspoons
• Honey, 2 tablespoons
• Garlic powder, ½ teaspoon
• Warm water, ½ cup
• Caraway seeds, 1 teaspoon
• Salt, 2 teaspoons

Preparation

Take a small bowl and dissolve yeast in warm water and keep it aside undisturbed for five minutes. In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the butter, honey and beer and mix it with the yeast, garlic powder, caraway seed and salt. Beat this mixture and add all-purpose and rye flour and knead it into a smooth, soft dough. Grease a round pan with butter and place this dough in it. Cover the pan and bake it in a preheated oven at 175 ºC for about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bread to cool down. Cut the bread into slices and serve it with a soup of your choice.

You can try different variations for making beer bread. Add spices like onion powder, sage, oregano or thyme to the batter and spice up your unique beer bread recipe.