I remember growing up “bread and butter” used to be a thing. At dinner there would be a loaf of fluffy white sandwich bread and we’d smear it with what I suspect was probably some type of margarine spread (my memory fails me on the specifics). I must have gotten my fill as a kid because these days I’m really not much for bread or rolls with my dinner unless we’re out at a restaurant, in which case all bets are off π
We’ve been eating a lot of soup lately, and I know in Shane’s mind it’s a stretch to call a bowl of soup a complete meal, so one night I decided to make him bread to go with it. While I’m not big on it, he still loves a slice of bread served alongside dinner. Of course I waited until about 5 pm to come up with this plan (typical…) so my options were limited.
Luckily, this beer batter bread is one you can whip up at the last minute on a total whim. There are only a handful of ingredients, most of which I can almost guarantee you have in your house at all times. It’s a quick bread so you won’t find yeast among the ingredients required, which also means the prep time is literally just a few minutes. A handful of dry ingredients are whisked together, and then a bottle of beer is stirred in. Transfer the batter to the baking pan, drizzle with melted butter and into the oven it goes. And best of all, when it’s done baking there’s no waiting for it to cool! Is there anything better than a thick slice of warm bread slathered in butter? I think not.
You could make this bread with almost any beer you like so it’s perfect to use up those random bottles hanging out in the back of the fridge. For me, that meant grabbing a wheat beer leftover from a 12-pack we brought home from Canada last summer. The bread will take on the characteristics of the beer you choose so be sure to go with something you like drinking. I love that you could make this bread five times with five different beers and the result would be a slightly different flavor profile every time!
Beer Batter Bread
from The Williams-Sonoma Baking Book
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 (12 oz) bottle beer, at room temperature and unopened
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt together until combined. Open the beer and immediately pour it all into the bowl with the dry ingredients (there will be lots of foam, that’s ok). Stir the batter until it just comes together – it’s going to be very thick and a little lumpy so don’t try to use a whisk here.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it into an even layer. Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the batter. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the bread to cool for 5 minutes before turning it out of the pan. You can cut into this bread and serve it warm or wait for it to cool to room temperature – either way, slather with butter first π
{Note: the recipe suggested this recipe be served the day it was made, but we ate leftovers the following day too. I just popped them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften and warm them up.}
I always forget to make bread for dinner until its to late! This sounds awesome, my hubs would love it, and I love that there is no rise time! PErfect!
I’ve never had a beer bread but the photo looks amazing! Bread with butter and a big bowl of soup is all it takes to make me happy! π
Oh I just love this! I agree that sometimes you need something in a pinch to go with dinner. I’ve been trying to make bread with soup a lot lately too, but sometimes don’t think of it early enough to make it happen. This is a great alternate solution! (And beer in the batter sounds perfect for St. Patty’s day!)
This sounds and looks fantastic – the perfect accompaniment for soup, stew, or chili. And my husband also looooves a slice or two of bread alongside dinner almost every night, so I’m always sure to have some in the house – I should make this soon!
I think you meant 15-20 seconds?
I love this so much, Tracey! Beer gives such great flavor to food and baked goods. These photos are stunning!
@Nate: Yes, I did – thanks for catching that! All fixed now π
Tracey – this looks so fabulous!
I’ve taken to always making beer bread to accompany chili or soup for the.boy..it’s the best and so incredibly easy to throw together!
This bread was a great side dish for our soup, thanks for making it!
I so rarely think of serving any kind of bread with dinner unless it’s part of it, like for burgers. But I love the crap out of it at restaurants. Time is the biggest issue (along with cooking for one), but seeing how easy this is might convince me to make it.
I love beer bread so much! This looks delicious!
We did white bread and butter growing up!! So weird. I wonder if it was just a generational thing or something. Mmmm bread.
I’m with your husband–love a big chunk of bread with my soup, and beer bread is one of my favorites! I highly recommend adding cheese to it!
This looks like it would be great along with a thick soup or stew! We don’t usually eat bread with dinner but this looks like an essential part of a meal π Thanks!
And yet… Tastefully Simple continues to sell this for like $6 per box mix! π I love Williams Sonoma’s cookbook! He puts the ingredients next to the directions instead of on top – just how I do it when I handwrite them down.
I love, love, love beer bread. It’s so easy and always tastes amazing! Though mine is usually lumpy, bumpy, and ugly. Your loaf is perfect!
I think that bread, as a part of every meal, was generational as stated above. I was born in 1941 and it was considered “good for you” and was a great filler,especially as meat could be in short supply, as well as expensive. So, if you didn’t bake or buy rolls you’d put the Wonder Bead on the table.
I love beer bread! This seems like a good recipe to whip up last minute. Love it!
My last attempt at making beer bread, the butter bubbled over and smoked out my whole kitchen. Fail aside I really do love beer bread and this seems like the perfect recipe to get back into the saddle.
Love beer bread, but I haven’t ever made it. I have a bottle of beer in the pantry that needs to get used, so this would be perfect. Going to have to plan soup night this week!
I love beer bread and will try this version today to go with some random soup in the crockpot. And about the leftovers… it makes the BEST toast with jelly for breakfast the next day.
Jan
I am going to have to keep this recipe in mind. I had a complete beer bread flop earlier this year (I am completely blaming the beer I used), but I’d love to try it again!
What a delicious loaf!
can lager be used instead of beer ?