It only takes 6 ingredients and one bowl to make the easiest Honey Beer Bread! This may be one of the easiest in our collection of Homemade Bread Recipes because it requires no yeast, no kneading, and no fancy equipment. Made with your favorite beer, salted butter, and a touch of honey, it bakes up perfectly fluffy on the inside with a lightly sweet and savory flavor.
Serve this delicious side alongside plenty of main dishes, especially your grilled and barbecue favorites or winter soups and stews!
Baking with beer is perhaps the best secret for making a really simple, completely homemade bread loaf for dinner. It's an approachable technique for beginner or advanced bakers that we have made countless times with success.
For more no-fuss recipes, I suggest these Cornmeal Drop Biscuits or this Pull Apart Bread made with frozen dough. Easy sides that absolutely steal the show!
Skip to:
- Why this recipe is great
- What does beer do in bread?
- Ingredients for honey beer bread
- Helpful kitchen tools
- How to make beer bread
- Topping ideas
- Main dishes to serve with this recipe
- Storage and reheating instructions
- What type of beer should I use for beer bread?
- FAQs
- Tips & Tricks
- More bread recipes
- Recipe
- Comments
Why this recipe is great
- Unlike many recipes, we mix butter directly into the batter to give it a buttery flavor all throughout and the best soft, moist, chewy texture!
- It's super easy! One bowl, mixed by hand, with no kneading required.
- It can be made, baked, and served in less than an hour. No waiting for yeast to rise!
- It's a versatile side that can be served with all kinds of main dishes.
What does beer do in bread?
Beer, when mixed with a leavening agent like baking powder, reacts to allow the dough to rise. This reaction replaces the rise typically created by yeast, giving you a simpler way to create that fluffy texture. As a bonus, beer also adds delicious flavor!
Ingredients for honey beer bread
You only need 6 simple ingredients to make this loaf. Quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are some notes that I find helpful.
- Butter: We always use salted butter. It's more flavorful! Unsalted can be substituted.
- All purpose flour: AP flour gives the dough enough structure to hold up. It should not be substituted with bread flour.
- Salt: Kosher salt is our preferred option.
- Baking powder: Instead of using yeast, baking powder will act as the rising agent to create a light and fluffy texture.
- Honey: The bit of sweet balances the bitterness of the beer. Many recipes use sugar or brown sugar, but honey is a very complimentary flavor without being too sweet.
- Beer: We used Blue Moon Belgian White, which is similar to a Miller's Lite, Coors Light or Bud Light. See my notes further down in the post for choosing the best one.
Helpful kitchen tools
Mixing Bowls with Lids Set of 5 - Nesting Bowls with Airtight Lids and Graters - Stainless Steel Non-Slip Mixing Bowl for Baking, Food Storage and Prepping (Black)KitchenAid Classic Spoon Spatula, One Size, Aqua Sky
Checkered Chef Cooling Rack for Cooking and Baking - 8" x 11 ¾
Orblue Serrated Bread Knife with Upgraded Stainless Steel Razor Sharp Wavy Edge Width - Bread Cutter Ideal for Slicing Homemade Bagels, Cake (8-Inch Blade with 5-Inch Handle)
How to make beer bread
The first step is to preheat your oven to 350°F. Then prepare a standard 9x5 inch loaf pan with a non-stick finish. Pour 2 tablespoons of melted butter into the pan and use a silicone brush to grease the bottom and sides.
In a medium or large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder together until evenly combined.
Pour the honey, beer, and 4 tablespoons of the melted butter on top of the dry ingredients.
Stir the batter well with a rubber spatula until everything is evenly combined. Be careful to not overmix or the dough will become more tough.
Pour everything into the greased pan, then pour the 2 tablespoons of remaining melted butter directly on the top of the batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or it is golden brown on the top and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Pro tip: I suggest allowing the loaf to cool at least 10 minutes before tipping it out of the pan, or a little longer if needed.
Topping ideas
You can serve this warm straight from the pan, or add your favorite toppings! I suggest warm softened butter or Hot Honey Butter with a drizzle of extra honey or spicy honey on top! Jam or jelly is another great option.
Main dishes to serve with this recipe
This quick bread recipe goes well with all varieties of main dishes, including grilled meats, barbecue, soups, stews, and more. Here are a few ideas that would make a good pairing.
Storage and reheating instructions
Store leftovers in a an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to keep it fresh. It will last at room temperature for 2-3 days.
I suggest gently reheating leftover slices in the microwave for 5-10 seconds, just enough to restore that super soft texture.
What type of beer should I use for beer bread?
It's really important something that you like the flavor of, because it will reflect in the final taste. Lighter beers will give the bread a more subtle flavor and lighter color, which is what tends to be crowd pleasing. A darker beer will give it a more robust flavor and color. You can truly choose anything including ales, blondes ales, lagers, pilsners, or seasonal varieties.
FAQs
Yes, the alcohol content will cook off. However, the flavor will still remain.
Beer bread has a crumbly texture on the top and sides, so it is best to use a long serrated knife in a sawing motion to cut slices that are about 1 inch thick. It is also helpful to allow it to cool slightly before slicing.
We prefer to serve this fresh because it becomes a bit softer than ideal after being frozen. However, if you do decide to freeze it, we suggest freezing cooled slices flat on a cookie sheet until solid, then store in a Ziploc bag or wrapped in plastic. For a full loaf, cool it fully before wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and foil. It will freeze well for 2-3 months. Thaw fully, then gently reheat before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- Be careful not to overmix the batter or it will deflate.
- Always use a serrated knife to cut the neatest slices.
- For best results, use a non-stick pan so that it tips out extra easily. This lets you skip the annoying step of making a parchment paper sling.
More bread recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread
- 5 Ingredient Cream Biscuits
- Easy Cornmeal Drop Biscuits
- Pull Apart Bread with Frozen Dough
- Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
- Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls
- Brown Butter Banana Bread
- Cheddar Biscuits with Hot Honey
- Lemon Thyme Focaccia Bread
- Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
- Garlic Bread with French Bread
Recipe
6 Ingredient Honey Beer Bread (no yeast!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoon butter melted and divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 (12oz) can beer *see note
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Pour 2 tbsp of the melted butter into the bottom of a non-stick 9 inch loaf pan, brushing it around to grease the sides as well.8 tablespoon butter
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder together. Add the honey, 4 tbsp of the melted butter, and the beer. Stir well with a rubber spatula, until everything is evenly combined.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ¼ cup honey, 1 (12oz) can beer, 8 tablespoon butter
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, then pour the remaining 2 tbsp butter on the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.8 tablespoon butter
- Allow the bread to cool at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving. You can tip the bread out of the pan, but it may need to cool longer because it is very soft and moist.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the batter or it will deflate.
- Always use a serrated knife to cut the neatest slices.
- For best results, use a non-stick pan so that it tips out extra easily. This lets you skip the annoying step of making a parchment paper sling.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Jilly Willy says
Delicious as is and easily manipulated.
Misty says
So glad you liked it!
Danielle says
My family loves eating this with soup and chili! It is a little sweet and plenty moist!