Honey Beer Bread

Honey beer bread is a foolproof recipe that even beginner bakers can make. 

There’s no yeast, no rising time, and no fuss. With just four ingredients, you can create this tender homemade bread in less than 1 hour.

Honey Beer Bread

Honey beer bread is a quick bread with a crisp crust and a soft, chewy interior. It calls for just four ingredients: self-rising flour, sugar, honey, and beer.

Unlike traditional bread, you don’t need to knead, roll, and let the dough rise for hours. 

Instead, the self-rising flour and beer eliminates all that tedious bread making work.

Turn it into toast, sandwiches, or an easy dinner side. It’s so tasty and simple, you’ll make this bread again and again.

Ingredients

What I love about this easy bread recipe is that you only need four ingredients. Odds are you have them all in your kitchen right now!

• Flour – I use self-rising flour. It eliminates the need for leavening agents such as baking powder or baking soda to make the bread rise. If you don’t have it on hand, don’t worry! I’ve shared a substitute in the tips section.

• Sugar – Three tablespoons add just the right amount of sweetness. If you don’t want to use sugar, you can use honey instead. 

• Honey – For sweetness and moisture. If you’re not using sugar, add extra 3 tablespoons to the specified quantity. 

• Beer – It may sound like a strange ingredient to making bread, but beer works wonders! Use your favorite beer for the best flavor.

Tips for the Best Bread

Bread making doesn’t get any easier than this recipe. Still, I have some tips to help you out:

• Do not over-mix the dough. This will yield a dense and tough loaf. Stir the ingredients just until they’re well-combined.

• Use a muffin tin. It creates individual servings and bakes faster, too! This muffin-bread mash-up calls for only 20 to 30 minutes of baking.

• No self-rising flour? Just use all-purpose flour instead. Also, add 4 ½  teaspoons of baking powder and a teaspoon of salt to the recipe.

• Measure the flour accurately. I use the spoon and level method. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it with a knife. If you scoop the flour with the measuring cup, you’ll end up using more than needed.

• Do not over-mix the dough. This will yield a dense and tough loaf. Stir the ingredients just until they’re well-combined.

• Make it more savory. This recipe makes a sweet loaf. If you want it more rich and savory, add shredded parmesan, gruyere, or cheddar cheese. Fresh chives or herbs will add a wonderful flavor, too.

• Let the bread cool. I know it’s hard, but let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Use a serrated knife to make clean slices.

• Give the bread an autumn twist. Swirl cinnamon and brown sugar into the dough. It’s a delicious treat that whole family will love!

How to Serve Honey Beer Bread

Honey beer bread is packed with flavor as it is, so you can eat it on its own.

To make it even more extra, slather it with butter and drizzle it with honey. Breakfast has never tasted this good!

What Does the Beer Do?

There are two reasons beer is used in making bread. First, the yeast in beer reacts with the flour and baking powder, causing the bread to rise. 

Don’t be surprised when you see the dough bubbling and foaming once you add the beer. That’s what’s supposed to happen. 

The second purpose is flavor, and no, beer won’t make your bread bitter. Don’t worry about getting drunk when eating beer bread. 

Baking causes the alcohol in the beer to evaporate, which will leave only its flavor. Its combination with honey makes this bread impossible to resist. 

That said, when making this bread, be sure to use beer that you actually like. Any beer works, but these ones have flavorful undertones:

• Belgian
• Guinness
• IPA
• Lager
• Brown Ale
• Farmhouse Ale
• Pale Ale

Light beers such as Bud Light, Miller Light, and Coors Light also work, although they’re not as flavorful.

How to Store

Didn’t finish your loaf? No worries! You can keep leftover bread on the counter, in the fridge, or the freezer.

To Store: Place the cooled bread in an air-tight container or wrap it in plastic wrap. It will keep for 2 to 3 days at room temperature. You can also refrigerate it for up to 5 days. 

To Freeze: Wrap the entire loaf or slices in plastic wrap. Place it in a freezer-safe bag, label, and freeze. Frozen beer bread will keep well for up to 3 months.