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With no yeast, no kneading, and just 3 ingredients, this Beer Bread is a homemade bread recipe that anyone can make. Ready in under an hour, with just 5 minutes of prep!

A loaf of beer bread, with a few pieces sliced

Quick & Easy Beer Bread Recipe

This beer bread may be the easiest bread recipe you ever make. It requires just 3 ingredients and the only steps are simply to mix the ingredients and bake them. It might seem too good to be true but it’s literally that easy!

Beer bread can be used to make sandwiches or toast but I personally love it when served with chili and soup or stews. I love the dense, moist texture and the light beer flavor. While this is a recipe for basic beer bread, I’ve also included lots of suggestions for other variations.

What You’ll Need

There are just 3 ingredients needed to make this easy beer bread recipe!

  • Self-Rising Flour – Since we’re using self-rising flour, there’s no need to add baking soda or other leavening agent ingredients often found in beer bread recipes. This is your dry ingredients.
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Beer – You can also get creative and try seasonal beers, like pumpkin ale, or hard ciders.

How to Make the Best Beer Bread

There are just a few steps to making this homemade bread recipe.

  • Make the batter. Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl, until fully combined.
  • Bake. Transfer the batter to the greased loaf pan. Bake for 40 minutes. The beer bread forms a fantastic crust.
  • Cool. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing.
Top view of beer bread loaf

What is Self Rising Flour?

Self rising flour is a combination of flour, baking powder, and salt. This combination cuts out a lot of extra time and work from traditional bread recipes because there’s no yeast needed and therefore no rise time. If you do not have self-rising flour you can make it yourself. For every 1 cup of all-purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

What Kind Of Beer Should I Use To Make a Homemade Beer Bread Recipe?

You can use any kind of beer you prefer. My personal preference is to use golden ale beers, but any beer will work just fine. The beer taste is actually very faint, especially when you use light beer. The real purpose of the beer is to create air bubbles that make the bread rise and baking the bread does cook the alcohol off, so this recipe is enjoyable for the entire family.

Serving Suggestions

Beer bread, like most homemade breads, is extremely versatile. Sometimes I’ll enjoy the warm slices with some melted butter or even whipped cinnamon butter.

This bread can also be used for sandwiches or turned into toast. It makes a great side for soup (especially if you add the cheddar cheese, yum!), chili, or anything else you’d typically serve bread with.

slice of beer bread on a brown board

Storing:

Homemade bread can be stored at room temperature for 3 days or in the fridge for 5 days. One trick I have for ensuring it stays moist and tender is to place a paper towel with it in the airtight container.

Can I Freeze This?

Beer bread does freeze very well. Once it cools completely, wrap it in plastic wrap then freeze it in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then enjoy!

Optional Mix-In Ideas

Customize your beer bread by adding some additional ingredients when you stir the dough.

  • Fresh, chopped dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme or clove.
  • Shredded cheese such as cheddar or pepper jack
  • Crispy Bacon
  • Raw or roasted garlic
  • Finely diced jalapenos (this would be good with the cheese)
  • Honey (for a sweet flavor)
  • Butter (brushed over the top)

Top of Beer Bread loaf slices

More Quick Bread Recipes:

4.99 from 58 votes

3-ingredient Beer Bread Recipe

With no yeast, no kneading, and just 3 ingredients, this Beer Bread is a homemade bread recipe that anyone can make. Ready in under an hour, with just 5 minutes of prep!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, and beer until it is fully combined. The batter will be thick. Spoon the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes.
  • Take out of the oven and let sit for five minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and let cool completely before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 5gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1IUCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jill

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4.99 from 58 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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86 Comments

  1. sandy collins says:

    5 stars
    looks good

  2. Mellissa says:

    For all that asked about making your own self-rising flour: For every cup of self -rising flour called for in your recipe, measure out 1 level cup all-purpose flour. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk to combine.

  3. Opal Colvin says:

    Thank you for posting this recipe.

  4. MARIAN CHAPMAN says:

    I only have unbleached all-purpose flour will that work

    1. Sparks13 says:

      If you don’t add salt and soda, the bread won’t rise, and it will be very bland.

  5. Lisa says:

    5 stars
    I have made this bread for many years!! Everyone’s favorite! Great as a fresh gift! I have only used lite beer.

  6. Ai says:

    Can I use regular flour and add baking soda? The stores are out of self riding flour. 

    1. Deb G says:

      5 stars
      I made this today, added baking powder and salt to make self rising. Look up recipe for measurements for self rising flour. Bread was great.

    2. sue says:

      Just google self rising flour and you can make your own

  7. Sue Fox says:

    5 stars
    I’ve been making this for forty some years.  Light beer doesn’t work!
    Half way thru the baking I pour a half stick of melted butter over top, makes a wonderful buttery crusty outer layer?

    1. CJ says:

      That sounds amazing!

  8. Melanie says:

    Can I use all purpose flour for this?

  9. Diane Martin says:

    Hi! If I don’t have self rising flour how much baking powder would I use? Thanks

    1. Nancy says:

      To make self-rising flour, for each cup of all-purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt

  10. Mary Macuga says:

    Can this be frozen? I mean, I know it can be frozen but will it be tasty after thawing out! Thank you

    1. Ann says:

      Yes. It is excellent either way, frozen or fresh. I have been making Beer Bread since 1982!