Bread. It’s something that has been part of the human diet for centuries. But making it can be daunting… especially if it involves yeast. I’m starting to get into bread baking and to help ease me in, quick breads are more approachable for me. The following recipe is for a classic beer bread, which is super easy to make. The recipe doesn’t require yeast, No kneading is involved. Just stir it up and bake it up!
The best part is the versatility of this recipe. You can easily make this with a lot of substitutions and variations for a sweet or savory bread. If you don’t have any beer on hand, a number of carbonated drinks can be used instead – cream soda, ginger ale, lemon lime, etc.
You can also stir in some additional ingredients to make it more flavorful as a sweet or savory bread – dried fruit, chopped nuts, sweet spices, dried herbs, shredded cheeses, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Some girlfriends and I got together to spend the day baking, which you can read about here. This is a great recipe to gather friends, family or even the kids for some kitchen fun!
Classic Beer Bread
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder (omit if using Self -Rising Flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar or honey
12 oz. beer
1/4 cup melted butter
Combine all ingredients. except the melted butter.
Pour into greased loaf pan.
Pour melted butter over the top.
Bake at 375 degrees for 50-55 minutes.
Looking for some variations? Check out these savory and sweet versions:
Cheddar Herb Beer Bread
Add the following to the mix:
1 teaspoon chili or cayenne powder
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Garlic, Olive & Cheese Beer Bread
Add the following to the mix:
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Pepperoni Cheese Beer Bread
Add the following to the mix:
2-3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup chopped pepperoni
Cranberry Orange Quick Bread
Add the following to the mix:
12 oz. orange soda in place of the beer
1 cup dried cranberries
Cranberry Orange Apricot & Walnut Quick Bread
Add the following to the mix:
12 oz. orange soda in place of the beer
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup walnuts
Chunky Apple Quick Bread
Add the following to the mix:
12 oz. lemon lime soda in place of the beer
4 tablespoons applesauce
1/4 cup chopped apples
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
Banana Walnut Quick Bread
Add the following to the mix:
12 oz. ginger ale
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup mashed bananas
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Cinnamon Bun Streusel Quick Bread
Add the following to the mix:
12 oz. cream soda in place of the beer
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
Streusel (combined & sprinkled on top of loaf before baking)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon flour
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