This beer bread recipe is sooo easy and so delicious, and only requires a few pantry staples. Since we’re all in lockdown here in NZ, I’ve coined the term ‘Lockdown Loaf’ – and it really is perfect in that sense. Stir the beer bread it up in one bowl – no kneading, no proving, no yeast needed. And if you need a gluten-free bread option, I’ve included that below the recipe.
Tips
- This bread isn’t light and fluffy like a bakery loaf – it’s dense and dare I say, ‘moist’. And that’s how it’s meant to be.
- For a reason I cannot understand, some people using Corona beer have produced a doughy, undercooked loaf. Go figure? In any case, don’t get too fancy here. Use the crappiest beer you have on hand – that awkward, long-forgotten bottle lurking forlornly the back of the fridge, probably leftover from some BYO you had 18 months ago, the one that could be expired and certainly no one will touch, not even your teenage son’s half-cut mates. That’s the beer you want.
- Check the expiry date on your baking powder.
- This beer bread bread is safe for kids and pregnant women, as the alcohol evaporates in the oven.
- If you can’t find beer, cider or plain soda water works – or a dry, not-too-sweet ginger beer or kombucha (omit the sugar if using these as they are already sweet). Lemonade would be too sweet.
- People have had success with using half wholemeal flour in their beer bread, too.
- Once it’s cooled down, it’s amazing toasted – we have it with peanut butter, Marmite or vegemite, avocado and tomato, hummus and basil – the list goes on! It’s highly addictive, I’ll warn you now.
- Get an oven thermometer and check your oven isn’t running cool if your loaf is undercooked.
- Don’t forget to share your creations with me on Facebook and Instagram, it brings me so much joy to see my recipes popping up in kitchens all over the place.
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Ingredients
Bread
3 cups plain flour (or use self-raising and omit the baking powder)
3 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
375ml beer (or make up the extra with water)
Toppings
Finely chopped onion or red onion
Grated cheese or dairy-free cheese
Sprinkle of paprika and/or oregano
Salt and pepper
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Some other ideas (not all together, though!): olives, capers, Parmesan , chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seed
Method
Preheat the oven to 180c regular bake and line a small/medium loaf tin with baking paper.
Add the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt to a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
Pour in the beer/water and stir again to combine into a sticky dough. Scrape in to the prepared tin with a spatula and smooth out.
Sprinkle with the toppings you like and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake in the oven for 40 minutes – it will have risen and puffed up and be all golden and delicious looking.
Serve hot or warm with any toppings you like – it’s awesome plain with butter, and I like Vegemite and Marmite too!
Once it’s cooled down it’s amaaazing toasted.
Keep at room temperature in a bag or container. It’s not gonna last long, though, I warn you now!
For gluten-free beer bread
Naturally, you’ll need to use a gluten-free flour mix without raising agent added.
For best results, I like to also add either 2 tbsp of either psyllium husk powder, or ground chia seeds. Adding one of these helps give the loaf that chewier, springier, bread-like texture that’s normally missing with gluten-free bread (which can be quite chalky.) This isn’t essential, though.
But if you are using one of these, you’ll need to add an extra 3 tbsp of water.
Then after mixing the dough, it’s helpful to let it rest for 10 minutes in the tin before it goes into to oven, to let the chia or husks swell up do their thing.
You’ll also need to use a GF beer. If you can’t find one, soda water works – or a dry, not-too-sweet ginger beer or kombucha (omit the sugar if using these as they are already sweet). Lemonade would be too sweet.
You can get psyllium husk powder at the supermarket – well, usually anyway! It’s very high in fibre so drink an extra glass of water when you enjoy a slice of the bread to be kind to your tummy.
If you have whole chia seeds at home, you can grind them in a mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, high speed blender or bullet to make a powder.
For a sweet loaf
You can use lemonade for a sweet loaf – it’s lovely smeared with butter or dairy-free spread or unflavoured coconut oil – topped with jam or honey!
Omg so easy and yum. Made it last nite to go with a stew. All gone ???? will make again thanks
Favorite chef in the world=Chelsea Winter!
Everthing I’ve ever made of yours is completely on point. Thanks so much! Looking forward to trying this bread out. As for tonight, it’s your pork belly with cracking and apple sauce on the menu! Mouth watering stuff. Cheers
Delicious! Added sunflower seeds in flour mix for some added taste and fiber. So so good! Demolished the loaf for lunch.
This recipe is superb, made it with finely sliced shallots on top to go with mac and cheese, next day it was delicious toasted with poached eggs and then lunchtime I made ham and cheese toasted sandwiches with it. Going to try a sweet version today. I’ve shared your link with my Cooking in France FB group and FB friends back in Wales, Spain, Australia and Mexico….. It’s a well traveled recipe! Thank you.
Best bread recipe ever. Ive made it quite a few times. Doesnt last long despite my best intensions ????
I have made this bread twice using different beers. The first loaf topped with sesame and poppy seeds, the second with black olive slices. Both delicious and so quick and easy to make
Just made the loaf using sodastream water. Put grated cheese, salt and pepper on top with olive oil. OMG yummy ????
Hi
I made this bread using cider. Very nice too!!
Has anyone used almond flour instead of GF flour?
TIA
OMG this was so easy and tasted amazing! It’s definitely on our list for future even after lock down. Used onion and cheese on top. Only problem is loaf is too big and now we are overful. Warning its way too easy to eat ????
Brilliant recipe! I used half and half wholemeal/white flour and kombucha instead of beer and it was amazing!
Now trying a self raising one as run out of white flour – this will be a family favourite forever ????????xxx
I want to try this but we only have some Heinekin 0.0 Beer would that work or does it have to be full bear. We got this out of our Black Box as we don’t think beear
O% will work x
My husband has made this twice since lockdown and it keeps for days it is delightful, highly recommend and so easy, thanks
Hi Chelsea! Just to clarify …. if using GF Flour, I should omit the baking powder correct?
Thanks!
No, add the baking powder to the dough. Just use a GF blend that doesn’t already have a raising agent in it x
Made this tonight, rose up so high! Put cheese and paprika on top. So easy peazy. Having it with pumpkin soup. You must try it.????????
Great recipe…made with Tooheys…chopped red onion and cayenne pepper…delish..thanks , will be experimenting with some of thss ideas noted here.
Yum! Made this with Kombucha as the IPA beer is rationed!!! Used half wholemeal and half white flour, sunflower, flax and sesame seeds on the inside and pumpkin seeds pressed on top. So good, especially toasted cheese and tomato sandwich ???? thanks Chelsea…new follower on a lockdown baking mission!!! ????????????
Bread is great, on second loaf used half whole meal flour and some grains and seeds, worked really well. Can see this being a favourite.
The corona issue may be because it is made from corn as opposed to wheat like other beers!
Great easy recipe, we didn’t have a loaf tin so went with a medium round one but needed to cook for another 10 minutes. Will try it with other liquids and topping now. Cheese, onion, rosemary with garlic oil on top was great. Thanks Chelsea
What if any toppings would u add if u did the sweet lemonade loaf?
You could add fruit and nuts x
Just turned lockdown loaf into pizza. Amazing base.
Hi Chelsea. Thanks so much for this recipe. I made it with very stale (yet still very fizzy) Guinness and it came out looking the colour of a Freya’s wholemeal loaf. It was very moist and tasted delicious.
An absolute cracker of a recipe! Just put my 2nd loaf in the oven to eat with dinner tonight. Ridiculously easy to make – I think I’m down to at least 3-4mins, including putting the topping on. I’ve been making it with 50:50 plain/wholemeal flour and bacon/cheese/red onion as that’s what I had on hand. I can’t wait to make all the topping variations.
This was delicious! Made it using a long forgotten bottle of Speights left in the fridge after a house party many months ago! Topped with sesame and poppy seeds plus a light drizze of EVOO. Tastes even better toasted the next day!
Took it out of tin, turned upside down.put it back in oven for a while and I am now eating it. It tastes great
Can this be made in fanbake oven. If so what temperature. Thanks
Yes, do 10 degrees less for fan bake x
Made this last night and it was awesome! For toppings we did roasted red pepper and sweet onion. Yummy!
Thanks for the great recipe
Do you think this would work well if I want to make a sweet coconut bread? Just use lemonade as you suggested with dessicated or freshly grated coconut in the mixture?
That would be lovely x
What. The. Actual. Heck. How on earth can this fuss-free recipe be so glorious??? Surely there needs to be more work required… no rising time? No kneading?? THIS WAS AMAZING! I can always count on your recipes to be so easy, delicious and never fails for beginners like me!! We had it tonight with your thai soup. Amazing!!!
Dont use a bread maker unless you are building bricks. Oven Makes perfect bread
Made this loaf this morning. Smells gr8 & looks fab & rose really well. I sifted the self rising flour too. Thanks for this recipe.
The loaf i made with Budwiser was sooooo good – even aftee i had to add water because i drank some of the beer !
The loaf was all gone in a day, i topped it with cheese & oregano, it smelt so good
We have one lonelly can of Speights gold left …..
But Im now out of baking powder and don’t want to risk a trip to the shops just for that
will baking soda and lemon juice work ?
Chelsea thank you so much. I added 1 tsp nutmeg 1tsp all spice 2 tsps cinnamon 1/2 cup of curants 1/2 cup sultanas peeled sliced and soften 1 apple in the microwave with a tiny bit of water for 1 minute i used 1 can of cider 45mls of water., 1/2 cup of shredded coconut. It is amazing tastes like easter and Christmas combined so quick and easy. I topped it with sultanas and currants but i would not do that again.
I have made this beer loaf twice and it is a hit! I use heineken beer for mine, our toppings were cheese, red onion, sun dried tomatoes, pepper and parsley, basically I just chucked in anything that was in my cupboards.
This is delicious and so easy. SO, today being Easter Sunday I decided to try something different. I followed the recipe exactly, but added raisins, cranberries and chopped dates (one cup total), a teaspoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of powdered ginger and half a teaspoon of nutmeg. I wasn’t sure how it would taste with the beer, but it is awesome – like a hot cross bun loaf!
Fantastic just have second loaf in the oven. First one only lasted a day and a half and there are only 2 of us I put Parmesan cheese on to ! I have been using Guinness as no one here drinks beer and I always have this in the cupboard for Guinness cake. The bread comes out a gorgeous colour with this and also smells delicious. Thanks so much for the recipe it’s a keeper.
Made this today and the bread tasted fantastic. I didn’t have enough beer so I added beer , plus kombucha !
Anyone tried using semolina wine with the recipe ?
Have made this twice so far during lockdown. Made with ginger beer and had cheese, chives and bacon topping. It is amazing, everyone in my family loves it and the kids love helping make it. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us.
Hi there! Could flavouring be mixed through the loaf rather than sprinkled on top? I’m thinking cinnamon, spices and sultanas mixed into the loaf. Also, could fruity ciders be used and what would that do to the flavour? Happy Easter!
Have made this twice now with a low cal beer and topped off with sundried tomatoes and shaved parmesan, is absolutely delicious and yes makes for awesome toast the next day.
thanks for the yummy recipe. I put some dried rosemary through it and then pumpkin seeds on top.. next time I will put the pumpkin seeds through it as well as most of them fell off when I turned it over to take it out the loaf tin (and yes.. I did put olive oil over the top :) )
But the consistency was great (and I used a low alcohol beer, Brabantia 3.3%) so will make again, and will also try it with the soda water.. would ginger ale work?????
thanks again Chelsea!!!!
This is great bread. I’ve been making it for years thanks to Jo Seagar. Wonderful with a bbq.
Made this to with spices & cinnamon with sultans. Yum recommended
Silly Q do you sift the SR flour ……. and should the beer be cold from fridge or room temperature before adding to the mix?
Yes, sifting the flour is a good idea. The beer should be preferably room temperature before baking x
Double batch in a large pan with some homebrew ale.
500ml beer the rest water. Parmesan, paprika and garlic powder to top. Let it run an extra 5mins to account for size. Worked out well.
We ran out of hot cross buns so I thought I would make a fruit loaf.
Used a can of Sprite, 1cup soaked raisins brown sugar and 3Tbsps mixed spice.
Sprinkled the top with cinnamon and castor sugar
Yummy
Heard people raving about this recipe so thought I would give it a go! Unfortunately I have put too much beer in so let’s see?? Moral of the story is…don’t get interrupted while pouring the beer! Smells good in the oven, though!
Hi everyone
Hope you are all safe and well in the lockdown. I love this bread, I make mine with cider and Parmesan, but it usually splits along one side! Which makes it difficult to cut. How can I stop this? Anyone any ideas
Cheers terry
Just made hot cross buns by adapting the recipe to accommodate vegan in our bubble and available resources. Used VB beer as wanted yeast aroma.. Added sugar, sultanas, lots of spices, a tablespoon of oil, then rolled into 12 buns and brushed with oil. Needed to use extra flour for forming buns. Crosses were a bit of a flop, but that was my fault. Used jam glaze when came out of oven. Excellent result for makeshift hot cross buns.
I used a cup of sultanas and 3 tsp cinnamon and lemonade instead of the beer. It was delicious.